Maria Elizabeth Ann Edison

Maria Elizabeth Ann Goins Edison was born September 11, 1950 in Washington, D.C. at Georgetown Hospital to Harmon Curtis Goins, Sr. and Inez Beatrice Bostic Goins. During her early childhood, she attended Crosby S. Noyes Elementary School, Truesdale Elementary School, and Brightwood Elementary School from Kindergarten through the 4th grade. From the 5th grade to the 8th grade, Maria attended Nativity Catholic School, where she then graduated. Growing up, several memorable summers were spent with her paternal grandparents, Johnsie Marie Kelly Goins, and Eric Curtis Goins, along with her brother Harmon in a town called Carthage, North Carolina. Maria also visited the home of her maternal grandparents with her mother in a place called Society Hill, during which time she learned that her grandmother, Ellen Dickinson Bostic was from a family of twelve, as well as her grandfather, Robinson Crusoe Bostic, Sr., who was also from a family of twelve in Goldsboro, North Carolina. In 1969, she graduated from Academy of Our Lady High School located at 5th and G Street NW in Washington, D.C. Maria attended Kentucky State University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree of Arts in Sociology. During her time at Kentucky State, she was crowned first runner up to Ms. Kentucky State. Maria met Reginald Lewis Edison while attending Kentucky State. Reggie and Maria were married on August 5, 1972. Several years later they were blessed with one child, a daughter they named Tessasoniquea Tiffany Alexsis Regina Edison, whom they lovingly called Tessa. The Edison family lived in Roslyn, Virginia for one year. Maria worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a clerk typist. In 1973, Maria began working for the U.S. Postal Service in the Philatelic Sales Division, where she devoted 15 years of work before moving with her family to the Glenmont area of Silver Spring, Maryland in 1988. In June of 1988, Maria began working for the Montgomery Country Government, Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs as an Administrative Assistant and was eventually promoted to an Investigator III. Maria received numerous honors and other accolades, including the “Employee of the Year” award in June 1994, as well as five, ten, fifteen and twenty-five-year pins in recognition of her outstanding service to the County. For four years, Maria was the Program Director of the Black Employees Success Team (B.E.S.T.) Program, a mentoring program to support African-American employees of Montgomery County, Maryland. During her 29-year tenure, Maria developed several meaningful relationships with her colleagues. Maria is a proud and devoted grandmother to her only grandson, Kristopher Ali Daniel Tynes, Jr., who was also born at Georgetown Hospital. KJ is currently attending DeMatha Catholic High School. Maria was a devout Christian, who lived for and loved The Lord and her family until her last breath on this Earth. She loved plays, the theatre, movies, music and all types of dancing, especially at family reunions. Maria’s all-time favorite scripture is Jeremiah 9:22-23. “This is what Jehovah has said: “Let not the wise man brag about himself because of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man brag about himself because of his mightiness. Let not the rich man brag about himself because of his riches. But let the one bragging about himself brag about himself because of this very thing, the having of insight and the having of knowledge of me, that I am Jehovah, the One exercising loving-kindness and righteousness in the earth for in these things I do take delight,” is the utterance of Jehovah.” Maria is survived by her daughter Tessa (father Reggie), grandson Kristopher, brother Harmon, first cousins Stephanie Bostic (daughter Charly Simpson) Stephen Bostic, aunt Maude Bostic, friend Chavon Knight, life partner Rajah Ball and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Inez and Harmon Sr. and her favorite aunt Gloria McIntosh. Our hearts are full of gratitude when we say many thanks to family members, friends and neighbors for all acts of kindness and sympathy: food, flowers, donations, cards, visits and kind words spoken for a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, cousin, co-worker and friend.