Betty Mae Edwards

Betty Mae Edwards, 69, of Ocean Springs, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, in her home surrounded by her loving family after a brave 10-year battle with leukemia. Born Feb. 22, 1939, in Biloxi, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Lucile Palmer Cox. She was a life-long member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs, where she shared her love of the Lord with her family. She was also a member of the Mississippi Coast Watchers and was an Eastern Star. Betty was survived by her husband and best friend of 46 years, Donald Edwards; four daughters and their husbands Ronda and David Graley of Craigsville, W.Va., Chris and Joe Miller of Gulfport, Cindy and Scott Bowers of Asheville, N.C., and BJ and Milo Boering of Mount Lebanon, Pa.; sisters Eleanor McGoldrick of Mission, Texas, and Marie Wallace of Saucier; sisters-in-law Sis Pavina of Claymont, Del., and Doris Spadaro of Linwood, Pa.; and a special cousin, Mitzi Keefer of Hattiesburg. Betty’s true joy in life was her 10 grandchildren. They were Andrea and Jesse Singhoff; Jennifer and Kimberly Irby; Joseph, Stephanie and Kelsey Miller; Shea Bowers; and Sophia and Miles Boering. The family will receive visitors Thursday, Dec. 4 at noon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs, followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. and interment of ashes in the church’s Memorial Garden immediately following the funeral service. Betty courageously faced leukemia head-on and participated in new drug studies so future blood cancer patients could benefit. Therefore, the family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 408 Fontaine Place Suite 104, Ridgeland, Miss., 39157. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.