Edwina S. Harwell

Edwina Sandra Harwell, was born March 18, 1937 in Chicago, IL to parents Edward Samuel Williams and Nanine Elizabeth Williams. She was married to the late Reverend Donald George Harwell for 56 years. She entered eternity from her home on January 21, 2021 at 83 years old in Brunswick, GA.

Edwina Harwell carried an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from National Lewis University. She practiced as a Registered Nurse for many years and was employed on the orthopedic wing at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, IL. She also worked as the School Nurse at Proviso East High School and finished her career practicing as the North Shore Director of Nurses for the Chicago Public School System.

She started her professional career after successfully raising her children and also supporting her husband as a pastor’s wife and necessary help mate. She assisted as he built one church from the ground up and spiritually fed three congregations over the years. Although she was a small package coming up, Edwina was strong and had a lot of spunk. It was said that Edwina was loved by all the fellas too. She was always well liked with a lot of personality and determination. She worked and put herself through private High School and later invested in quality educations for her children also.

That strength of character in her youth translated to a strong woman of God highly respected by many and she was often referred to as a “second Mother”. She exuded love as a pastor’s wife and extended love to everyone she met. Her love for The Lord was inherited genuinely from her great grandfather who was a Presbyterian minister in Chicago, IL and her grandmother who read her Bible and prayed every night before bed. Edwina was also a strong prayer warrior and weekly on Saturday nights before Sunday service she would call across country and pray with her children covering every aspect of the next day’s church meeting.

She loved singing and musicals which was evident from her children’s bell choir to singing faithfully in every choir of the churches her husband pastored. She traditionally delivered beautifully harmonized birthday songs in duet with her late husband to all whom they loved. Edwina’s musical love came naturally as her mother who was an accomplished concert pianist and regularly took her and her sisters to concerts at The Orchestra Hall in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue.

Edwina always kept herself in an exquisite manner. She loved keeping her hair (and her children's hair) and nails done. She loved clothes maybe a little too much as bags were hidden in various places to disguise her indulgence at times. She also loved fun and healthy competition that once went overboard when she routinely got Wheel of Fortune answers from her daughter in an earlier time zone to ensure puzzle wins over her husband.

Her grandchildren also loved her deeply and found her a joy to be around. Family gatherings were always lively and naturally included folks the family may or may not know that attached themselves to her contagious, sweet, selfless love. Edwina made giving during Christmas fun. She would often buy gifts and hide them, which isn't unusual. But she hid so many, (because she never left anyone out), that she would forget about some of them or later couldn't find them. This extended Christmas for weeks because she would find random gifts never delivered. Sometimes she couldn't remember who the gift was intended for so her grateful children would "rack up" as the happy recipients in the right place at the right time. Her love for hospitality, fun and recreation was also reflected in the location of her homes where either a creek, swimming pool, or lake was always the backdrop for socialization and enjoyment.

Common words that describe Edwina were sweet, class, dignity, and strength. We will all feel a loss without her beautiful smile that comforted so many through life. However, it is remembering that same smile that will give us motivation to go forward and conquer the world. And we also know that this isn’t “goodbye” but “see you later.” We will remember you Edwina Sandra Harwell/Ma and the love, light, and joy of Christ you brought into so many of our lives.

Edwina Harwell lived in the Chicago suburbs until retirement when she and late husband Donald moved to Brunswick, GA joining family there (the owner’s of Willie’s WeeNee Wagon the late Yvonne and Arnell “Willie” Chambers, a daughter, and others who later joined. Edwina is survived by her children: Jacqueline Gayle Lange (Steve), Donna Lynne Howell (Michael), Sharon Lee Seales (Manuel), Carol Sandra Harwell, Millicent Jean Cross (Gary), and Donald George Harwell, Jr. (Diannah), 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

A wake is to be held Wednesday, January 27th, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home 3321 Glynn Ave., Brunswick, Georgia.

Funeral services is to be held Thursday, January 28th 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Christian Renewal Church of St. Simons 6530 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA.

Edwina S. Harwell will be laid to rest alongside her husband of 56 years (Rev. Donald G Harwell) at Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL., following the service at 1 p.m.

Due to CDC regulations social distancing and wearing face masks will be enforced at all services.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, Georgia, www.edomillerandsons.com