Mrs. Bertha Eloise (Smith) Edwards

A native Texan, Bertha Eloise Edwards, passed away at 71 after a lengthy battle with kidney disease. Bertha was born December 7, 1949 in Ballinger, Texas to the late George and Lillie Mae Smith. She lived in Ballinger before moving to San Angelo, Texas.

Bertha graduated from San Angelo Central High School in 1966. In 1970, she graduated from Angelo State University (ASU). While visiting the East Coast, she met and married William “Bill” Earnest Edwards September 27, 1969 in Baltimore, MD. Later, Bertha graduated with a Master’s Degree from ASU. In 1978, she was selected for OPM’s Presidential Management Intern Program. For over 40 years, Bertha worked as a personnel management specialist for multiple federal agencies such as, Army Materiel Command (AMC), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and Veteran’s Affairs (VA) where she retired in 2015.

Bertha is survived by daughters, Sibyl Edwards of Washington, D.C. and Krystall Edwards of Arlington, TX; daughter-in-law, Melissa Jackson; grandsons, Zion Edwards Tassy and Tyler Jackson. She was preceded in her death by her parents and husband, Bill, her brother, Oscar “George” Smith Sr., and nephews, Oscar “Georgie” Smith Jr. and Kacy Smith.

Her brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Rose Smith, have been invaluable in making Bertha’s final years as pleasant as possible. She is also survived by her sister, Ola McCorkle, who resides in San Angelo, TX. As well as sisters-in-law, Gwendolyn Grant and Jessica Flores Smith. Along with her niece, Karen Steen, Choyce Hamilton and her husband Keon; great nieces, Chaye Whitaker, Whitney Steen; nieces-in-law, Rachelle Jefferson and Jackie Crosby.

Bertha’s vibrant life took her from the Southwest to the East Coast and back again. Over the decades she has made life-long friends with S.B. and Gaynell Bundage; Carolyn Epperson, Lorraine Lacy, Vickie Young; Carolyn Grooms (deceased), Patsy Washington, Deborah Vela, Winzoir "Van" Durr and Richard "Dick" Lowell and various members of the San Metroplex Association. Bertha leaves a host of cousins, friends and loved ones

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Edwards family.