Iva Grace Edwards

Iva Grace Pate Edwards, age 98, went to be with the Lord on Sunday August 20, 2017 at her residence surrounded by her loving family. Born in Yancey County on April 20, 1919 she was the daughter of the late John Pate and Hattie King Pate. Iva was the oldest living member of the Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. She will be remembered for her love of gardening, quilting and canning, but mostly for her love of her family. Iva was a friend to everyone she knew, and will be deeply missed by all.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Harvey Lee Edwards, two sons, Joe Dean Edwards & J.W. Edwards; a daughter Coleen Honeycutt and a special son-in-law, Delane Honeycutt.

Mrs. Edwards leaves behind three children, Gearaldine Pendley, daughter and husband David, Eugene Edwards, son and Judy Wood, daughter and husband Ken; one brother, Wayne Pate; eighteen grandchildren; thirty great grandchildren; eighteen great-great grandchildren; six great-great-great grandchildren and three special daughters-in-law, Joyce, Judy and Phyllis.

A funeral service to honor the life of Ms. Edwards will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church with Reverends Ray Stockton and Larry Anderson officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., one hour prior to the service at the Church. Interment will follow at McDowell Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice of McDowell at 68 Sweeten Creek Rd. Asheville, NC 28752.