Lisa Johnson Edwards

Lisa [Hebrew, devoted to God; my God is bountiful; a flower]

What do you call pure joy? We know and everyone who has ever met her know—we call it, Lisa LaChon Edwards—beautiful, smart, loving kind, gentle, caring, patient, joyful, joyful, Lisa! In retrospect, the Christmas of 1974 was extra, extra special to the Council, Bridges, Hines, and Johnson family. You see, Christmases were always so special to our family, but this one put the icing on the cake because it was the day that Craven Johnson, her father called from Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina to announce that a lovely little girl had arrived as the new addition to his and Willa, her mother’s family.

After discovering Willa was fine, the celebration for the firstborn child was on! What a precious gift, and a Merry Christmas to us all! Her beloved Grandma Ruth—mentor and voice of wisdom was there beaming along with the rest of the elated family. The legacy of a loving family continued that day, and Lisa truly loved family like a family should be loved with a “heart of gold.”

By the way, her mom had planned to name her “Mona Lisa,” but thankfully, the family was able to talk her out of it. Lisa will do…Lisa LaChon Johnson. Her Aunt Charlene was so inspired by her beauty, she pinned a song and sang it to her as a baby and sometimes to her unexpectedly—even as an adult. She was gracious.

Lisa LaChon, you’re so lovely/Lisa La Chon, smile for me…and smiled she did. What a gift! That smile that lit up any room in any circumstance.

A few years later, the Johnson’s bunch grew, and Lisa became the forever protective, always grateful, thoughtful, and loving, unless they got on her nerves that day, wonderful, best, big sister. Her two brothers, Craven and Clavon made the family complete who shared the same birthday month of December, and just a few days ago she herself wrote a note to make sure she wished them both a Happy Birthday.

They were also, protective of her and filled her life with nonstop laughter—good medicine. Their special bond would get them through some hard times, but the center was always family, music, laughter, and Jesus, for to church from their youth up, they would go.

Periodically, Lisa would request a sister, and the answer was from her mother would be…you have cousins, Charmaine, and Janis, and throw in a another “brother,” John, Jr. because he certainly came with the package. Later, Lisa would laugh about it when the story was told.

Speaking of a beautiful story to be told…after graduating from Pine Forest High School, college was inevitable, and she was certainly academically prepared, and her support system, Aunt Shelia, and Uncle Stanley (Cousins Corey, Delayne, Styles), made sure she was fully prepared in every way including protecting her from “keeping the wrong company” if needed, including her stepfather, Ardis and Uncle John. Well, we did not have to worry about that because after meeting a young, considerate, well-mannered, focused on doing-the-right-thing kind of guy in the person of Kevin Edwards…no worries, and the rest made wonderful history.

After graduating from St. Augustine in Raleigh, NC, they married in 2001. Then something happened immediately, her family grew with a loving mother-in-law, Grace, father-in-law, Wendell, his father, Kevin’s grandfather, Reverend SW, and a supportive sister-in-law, Terry (Rudolf-Edwards, Jr.) She loved that—the more—the merrier.

Side bar…Lisa had faith before she married that her marriage would represent God, and it would be a marriage filled with love, joy, unity, and victory…prayer answered for 21 years, Praise God! Thank you, Pastor Kevin.

Later, the joy continued with her first bundle of joy, Kaylon, and their second bundle with a bow on it, always, Lydia. Oh, how she loved them and how pleased she was with their bold choices to follow Jesus and serve Him in the ministry alongside her with her husband, now Senior Pastor Edwards at Calvary Chapel Clayton. Here she blossomed into a committed, faithful leader serving on many boards, enjoying the Women’s, Praise and Worship and Outreach Ministries.

What joy Lisa bought into so many lives—family, friends, and ministry! We can’t tell it all, but we can thank God for all the precious memories and the beautiful Christmas gift God gave us in of the winter ‘74 which blessed us with many joyful, joyful seasons of love. And now as her mom would always say after talking to her on the phone, we too will join in and say, we love you, Lisa!

Sister, Yvonne and brothers, Marcus and Travis Johnson, Uncle Ronald and many nieces nephews and friends of Lisa is remembered with love.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com for the Edwards family.

McLaurin Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Edwards family.