Fay Y Edwards

Born on Christmas Eve in 1931, she grew up in the rolling hills of Lincoln County, Kentucky. She had a close relationship with her parents, Kathleen Smith and Chester Smith, and her sister Sharon. At Highland High School, she was a cheerleader, a member of the yearbook staff, and eventually class salutatorian in 1950. Her essay advocating for peace in the atomic age won the Ladies Auxiliary Patriotic award.

At 21, she began teaching children of all ages in a one-room schoolhouse in Kentucky. She graduated with a B.S. in Education from the University of Cincinnati in 1962 and continued to teach, both in the public and private school system, until she was 78, a total of 57 years. She saved up enough money on a teacher’s salary to travel the world, exploring dozens of countries from Mexico to Scotland. An involved member of Idlewild Baptist Church, she sang in the choir and volunteered frequently in the community.

Fay’s greatest joys in life were her two sons, Daniel and Dwight, whom she raised in Kentucky and Tampa, Florida. She was a loving, fun, and dedicated “Nana” to her five grandchildren. She lived to see her great-granddaughter Mia Rose, whose name she thought sounded like a song.

She is survived by her sister, Sharon Smith; sons, Daniel Young and Dwight Young; daughters-in-law Kate Young and Leslie Young; five granddaughters, Brooke, Amanda, Andrea, Alisha, and Emily; and one great-granddaughter, Mia Rose. Memorial service will be held at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 3207 West Bearss Ave., Tampa, FL 33618, on April 27 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Oasis Pregnancy Center, 14620 North Nebraska Ave., #C, Tampa, FL 33613.