Edna Marie Sumlin was born in Charity Hospital on January 5, 1952, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Beatrice Falmer and Milton White.
On January 24, 1970, she married the love of her life Lonzo Shelley, Sr. Later that year they moved to Los Angeles, California where together they raised eight children.
Edna was a woman who loved and cherished her family. She was warm and friendly and had a great sense of humor and was the ultimate Southern Belle. No one she met was considered a stranger. She also enjoyed traveling, music, cooking, eating good food, shopping, animals, sports, dancing and having a good time with family and friends. Over the years, Edna wore many different hair styles with confidence and had great taste in many things including having a great eye for fashion. She was a classy woman with a sassy attitude. It’s definitely clear she always knew what she wanted. If the request for breakfast was to eat grits every day, yes indeed that’s what Edna ate! One of her favorite pastimes was watching old western movies, game shows, and investigation dramas. She had a big heart and welcomed many with open arms when they were in need of help. She taught her children these same important life lessons which they still apply to this day. Without question, Edna had such a zest for life and always knew the latest hot tea!
For more than 30 years Edna developed and grew, Shelley’s Family Child Care. She received a certificate from UCLA in Early Childhood Education. Edna was a hard worker. Most days she would, provide overnight care, take and pick the children up from school, prepare delicious meals for them, take them on outings and help them with their homework. She came to be loved as a second mother and grandmother to the parents and children she cared for.
As an adult, Edna was always searching for the truth, praying, and studying the Bible. In 1979, Edna was contacted by Jehovah’s Witnesses by means of the door to door ministry. She began a Bible study, dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized on July 4, 1981. Edna enjoyed the preaching ministry, attending Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Although battling illness, she continued to demonstrate how much she valued her relationship with her heavenly Father during all her interactions with her nurses and team of doctors. They all adored and cared for her, loved her wittiness and respected her decisions based on Bible knowledge and principles. She loved Jehovah and served him faithfully until she fell asleep in death.
This brief interruption of association with Edna will be remedied by our King Christ Jesus by means of the resurrection. Knowing that she is safely tucked away in Jehovah’s memory gives us comfort. At John 5:28, 29 Jesus Christ promises that "all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out". We are confident that Jehovah and Jesus are eager to do this. Edna will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Edna is survived by her children: Tendeka (Jeff), Lonzo Jr. (Alysia), Jenade (Anthony), Melvin (Caryn), LaSharon, Sirmora (Joseph), Lorenzen (Nicole) and Tyrus; her 16 grandchildren; her brothers Mitchell, Milton, Perrie, Albert and Freddie; her sisters Helen and Mary and a host of other relatives and friends. Edna was preceded in death by her loving husband Lonzo Sr., and her brothers Ben and Anthony.
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