Mara Kind

Bertha Ruth Edwards (Grunden), age 95, widow of John William Edwards passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2006 at Carolina Pines Hospital in Hartsville, SC. She broke her hip in December and in-mobility allowed pneumonia to set in.

She married "her Jack" on April 5, 1956 in Baltimore Maryland. They resided in Bayport, NY, Sayville, NY then back to Bayport, NY until they moved south in 1994. They made there home in Punta Gorda, FL and Port Charolotte, FL for 30 years when he passed away in January 2020. She then resided in Jacksonville FL with one of her grandsons until she moved to Hartsville, SC in 2023 to live with her daughter.

Bertha worked in their stationary store, Johnson's Stationary, in Sayville, NY as well as waitressing in Fran's Sweet Shop for many years until the business closed. She then moved to the Sayville Public Schools and retired from there in 1986 as the head cook.

Bertha was a member of the United Methodist Church for 94 years until she joined the Calvary Tabernacle Church in Hartsville, SC in 2025. She served on many committees in the church and was a long time member of the United Methodist Women, and different women's groups. She was also a co-leader for Girl Scouts in the 1970's in New York, as well as a member of the Sayville Fire Departments Ladies Auxiliary in the 1970's and 1980's.

Bertha enjoyed her retirement after caring for her mom by traveling the world and going on many cruises. She spent her much of her time crocheting, reading and doing word search books.

Bertha was predeceased by her parents, sister, two brother-in-laws and her beloved Jack. She leaves behind her two children, George Edwards (Eileen) of Bayport, NY and Susan Frances Carbone (Anthony) of Hartsville, SC, as well as a daughter-in-law Margaret Barton of Rockville Center, NY. She also left behind 6 granddaughters and 4 grandsons: Joy Love (Steve) Katz; Ruth Anne Carbone; Jill Ann Walker (predeceased); Lyn (Tobey) Curtis, Briana (Gregory) Episcopia; Justine (Chris) Wolf; Nicholas (Jess) Carbone, Jon-Anthony (Meghan) Carbone; James (Dana) Walker; Daniel (Lisa) Holbrook Jr. She also left behind 15 great-grandchildren: Myles Quiney, Damien Dudley, Dustin and Derek Curtis, Elizabeth & Henry Episcopia, Walter Wolf, Ava, Dean, Mia and Anneliese Carbone, Aidan and Ashton Walker, and Rhys Holbrook. She was extremely proud of her grands and would tell anyone that would listen all about them and what they are doing in life!

A small memorial service will be held at Calvary Tabernacle Church in Hartsville, SC at a future date as well as a small graveside service when her ashes are laid to rest in Sayville NY with her husband later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Calvary Tabernacle Church or Sayville Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. .