Evelyn Sions Edwards was born Evelyn Paige Sions to Paige Frederick Sions and Betty Bean Evans Sions on July 1, 1949. Evelyn was raised on a farm in Martinsburg West Virginia, the second oldest of nine children. She spent her summers working on the farm, even learning to drive a tractor at age eight! Evelyn excelled academically and loved learning. She graduated from Martinsburg High School in 1967 and thereafter earned her bachelor’s degree from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia in 1971. She pursued a career in teaching in Virginia but continued to spend time back home on the farm in West Virginia with her family.
Evelyn married Grady Daniel Edwards, originally of Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 24, 1978. After teaching for eight years, Evelyn left education prior to the birth of son, Brian Daniel Edwards in 1980. Not long after, the family moved to the Atlanta area, settling down in Lilburn, Georgia, where daughter Jennifer Lynn Edwards was born in 1982.
Evelyn enjoyed raising her children and was very active as a volunteer for many of their activities. She also enjoyed gardening and reading. She was active in her church and Sunday school class at Eastminster Presbyterian Church for many years. The family spent weekends hiking in nearby Stone Mountain Park. Visiting family and friends also enjoyed trips to Stone Mountain Park. After Brian and Jennifer graduated from college and left home, Evelyn and Grady enjoyed taking day trips to the North Georgia Mountains and surrounding state parks in Georgia and Tennessee. They traveled to visit family often, making trips to West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas. Evelyn especially enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, Gabby Jablonsky.
In July 2021, Evelyn and Grady moved from Lilburn, Georgia to Cypress, Texas, to be near daughter Jennifer.
Evelyn passed away on January 1, 2023, from complications of dementia, but not before having enjoyed visits from her children the previous week of Christmas.
Evelyn is survived by her husband, Grady, children Brian (Angela) Edwards and Jennifer (Matt) Jablonsky and granddaughter Gabrielle Jablonsky. She leaves behind her siblings Marguerite (Wayne) Byers, Beverly Radcliff, Louise Kessel, Kathy (Tim) Muia, Steven (Pam) Sions, Debbie (Chuck) Miller, Patricia Hydrick, and Roy (Julie) Sions, and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, January 15, 2023, 2:00 p.m., at Centre Friends Meeting Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
