Julia Edwards

Julia Edwards, age 64 of Springfield, died Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 3:47pm, at Memorial Medical Center surrounded by her husband and children. She was born December 10, 1943 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of G. Everett and Lucille Jordan. She married James Hobbs Edwards on September 26, 1969 at New England Congregational Church in Aurora. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Norman Jordan; and a sister, Norma Jordan. Julie was the 1960 West Aurora High School Homecoming Queen. She was passionately involved in music, theatre and the arts and played the starring role of Julie Jordan in the musical Carousel. She was active in the Alpha Chi Omega sorority at the University of Illinois, in which she was a lifetime member. She studied vocal performance at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign where she was involved in many of the university's performance and theatre programs. She was also active in the Art Institute of Chicago art outreach program and participated in pioneering their art outreach to the schools program. In the early 1970s Julie was president of the Aurora, IL Parent Teacher Association (PTA) where she was honored as a life member. Julie moved to Springfield in 1975 with her husband and three children. At that time she became the music director of Hope Presbyterian Church and became active in the Parent Teacher Organization at Carl Sandburg School, eventually serving as the President. Julie also was actively involved in the establishment of and development of the Art Outreach Program in District 186. Julie was heavily involved in numerous community arts and civics pursuits over her 33 years in Springfield. She volunteered at the Edwards Place where she eventually served as curator and historian and was on the board of directors for many years. Julie was the chairperson for Governor Jim Thompson's first Inaugural Ball and was recognized by Mayor Ossie Langfelder in 1993, receiving the Mayor's Award for the Arts by the Springfield Area Arts Council. Julie was a passionate volunteer advocate of many social and political causes including: Right for Life, anti-pornography issues, Rights of the Family, and the Eagle Forum. She received the Eagle Forum Homemaker of the Year award in 1986. She also received the 1987 Lobbyist of the Year Award from United for Decency and the Eagle Award from Phyllis Schlaffley. Julie was a delegate to the Illinois State Republican Convention for two years. Julie went back to school to obtain a second degree at the University of Illinois Springfield in studio fine arts. She was very active in arts and performing arts outreach throughout central Illinois including playing the dulcimer at New Salem State Park and at Clayville, performing in various roles for church musical productions at Calvary Temple Christian Center, opera theatre, muni opera performances and singing for the Springfield Symphony Chorus for many years. Julie directed costume design for the Springfield Ballet Company. Julie also did creative design work making masks for numerous charitable masquerade balls. She served on the following Arts Boards: Springfield Ballet Company, Springfield Opera Company, Springfield Area Arts Council, and Springfield Art Association. She was a proud member of her PEO chapter, Progress Circle and was the social chairperson at Illini Country Club. Julie was passionately dedicated to church activities where she served in many capacities including prayer co-ordination, event organizing, music, and worship. Julie was a mentor, encourager and friend to countless people. Her interests and influences were vast and profound. Julie was a Lincoln historian with a particular interest in Mary Todd Lincoln. In her final years, she conducted research and developed analysis on aspects of Mary Todd Lincoln's personal life. Most of all Julie was dedicated to her family and friends. She loved boating and travelling with her family, University of Illinois sports, music of all kinds, playing with her grandchildren, flower gardening, and party hosting. She will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband James Edwards, her sister Janice Pelletier (Encinitas, CA), brother Jack Jordan (Eugene, OR) and sister Jean Jordan (Eugene, OR). She is also survived by her three children: son Sean Edwards and his wife Amy of Omaha, NE and their children Anna, Victoria and Joshua; her daughter Emily Edwards Cabaness and her husband Jack of Craftsbury, VT; and her son Ryan Edwards and his wife Frances, of Los Angeles, CA and their children Ciara, Carissa, and Celia and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends from 1:30-3:15 p.m. with funeral ceremonies at 3:30 pm on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at First United Methodist Church, at 5th and Capitol Streets, downtown Springfield. Dr. Bob Swickard will be officiating. A private family interment will be held at a separate date. For anyone caring to make donations in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Springfield Art Association Edwards Place Improvement Fund or to the First United Methodist Church of Springfield. The family of Julia Edwards is being served by Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.