Ella Ruth Black Edwards

Our loving mother, Ella Ruth Black Edwards, 90, of Columbia, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2012. Ruth, as she was known to all, was born in Stilson, Georgia, a daughter of the late George Wilton and Lela Eloise Collins Black. Ruth was the youngest of ten (10) children. Her mother, Lela, passed away shortly after her birth. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, Ruth had many leadership callings throughout her life, and served her Heavenly Father faithfully. In life Ruth was very creative with crafts, along with her late daughter, Ruthie Conrad, and daughter-in-law, Dawn Giles Edwards. Ruth particularly wanted her family to know that she had a testimony of Jesus Christ as her Savior and shared that testimony with them at every opportunity.

Surviving are her loving children, Delores Habel and husband, David, John W. Edwards and wife, Dawn, and Jimmy E. Edwards; a sister, Irene Black Eason, age 92, of Rincon, GA; half-brothers, Horace Black, Wallace Black; and half-sister, Lois Black Grovesteine. Ruth leaves a posterity of eighty-nine (89) grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Henry Andrew Edwards and her daughter, Florie Ruth Edwards Conrad.

The funeral service for Mrs. Edwards will be held 11 o’clock, Saturday, March 3rd, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Irmo Ward, with Bishop Charles Dowse officiating. Mrs. Edwards will be placed in the Relief Society Room at 10 o’clock. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Ruth’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 o’clock, Friday evening, at Shives Funeral Home, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia. Memorials may be made to the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints, Irmo Ward, Missionary Fund, 7449 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063.

The family would like to thank the Staff of Agape Hospice House for their tender care of our mother, and for the outpouring of love and care shown to all of us in this difficult time.