Southampton-Bedford County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Edwards, Marion Lawless, 1961 

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MARION LAWLESS EDWARDS

LAST RITES HONOR PIONEER RESIDENT

   Mrs. Marion Lawless Edwards, cultural leader and first citizen, was buried 
Sunday at 2 p.m. in Poplar Spring Cemetery with graveside services being 
conducted by her pastor, the Rev. Ira D. Hudgins of the Franklin Baptist 
Church.

   Mrs. Edwards, 80, died early Friday morning in the local hospital after a 
brief illness.

   She was the widow of Claude J. Edwards, former mayor of Franklin, and the 
daughter of Dr. John Lee and Mrs. Emma Barker Lawless of Bedford County.

   A native of Bedford County "Miss Marion," as she was known to her friends, 
came to Franklin in 1898.  Her father served here as pastor of the Franklin 
Baptist Church for a number of years.  She was a member of the church and its 
Woman’s Missionary Society.

   "Miss Marion" was an accomplished musician, a composer and a teacher of 
piano for 55 years.  In 1908 she organized the Franklin Music Study Club.  She 
had been a member of the Franklin Book Club for many years.  In March 1954 she 
was chosen the "First Citizen of Franklin" by the Franklin Business and 
Professional Woman’s Club.

   Survivors are two sons; Gordon Edwards of Wilmette, Ill., and Luther Rice 
Edwards of Falls Church; three sisters, Mrs. W.H. Arthur of Franklin, Mrs. 
D.H. Stevens of Charlottesville and Mrs. Emma L. Nunnally of Alexandria; one 
brother, John Lee Lawless, Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren and a 
number of nieces and nephews.


Marion (LAWLESS; Mrs. Claude J.) EDWARDS, of Franklin, 
piano teacher and civic leader, 
Bedford Co. native, d. 20 Jan 1961, Franklin, age 80, 
interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Section 2, Plot 87A*), Franklin, 
   22 Jan 1961, 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Jan. 23, 1961, p. 1 

*Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project,
    Poplar Spring list:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/poplar2.txt 

Additional information: 

Claude J. Edwards, 26, s, So.Co., 
   s/o Luther R. and Virginia M. "Jennie" Bourke Edwards, Attorney 
m. 09-24-1902 Franklin, So.Co., Va. by Rev. J.L. Lawless 
Marion Lawless, 22, s, So.Co., 
   d/o John Leland and Emma C. Barker Lawless 
(Southampton Co. MB11:84; transcribed & annotated by Bruce Saunders: 
 http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/vitals/mb11pt.txt) 

The couple lost an infant son- Clayton- May 11, 1906.  His obit 
   ("Tidewater News," May 14, 1906) is posted at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/e363c5ob.txt 

Her husband's obit ("Tidewater News," Nov. 29, 1946, p. 1) is posted at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/e363c4ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/e363m3ob.txt