RICH SQUARE – Barbara Hudgins Edwards, age 78, died peacefully on Sunday, March 31, 2013.  She was born on January 20, 1935, in Halifax County and was the oldest of three children of Albert Earnest and Sallie Melton Hudgins.

She graduated from Enfield Graded School and Woman’s College, UNC in Greensboro, NC where she received a BS Degree in Elementary Education.  She taught school in Arlington, VA, Roxboro, NC and for many years at Northeast Academy in Lasker, NC where she was an active parent as well.  She enjoyed the Northeast Academy Fund Raising trip to New York each year.

Barbara was a faithful member of Rich Square Baptist Church where she served on the Bereavement Committee.  She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and loved to play bridge at every available opportunity.  She also enjoyed traveling with her friends especially Mary Elizabeth and Jimmy Outland.  Before the death of her husband, she was a member of the NC State Wolfpack Club and remained an avid supporter of NC State Athletics.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Julian Hall Edwards; and son, Julian Chris Edwards; grandson, Steven Ford Conger Edwards; her mother and father, Sallie Melton Hudgins and Albert Earnest Hudgins; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Shirley Hall Edwards and Julian James Edwards.

She is survived by her son, Julian Brett Edwards of the home; daughter, Danya Edwards McQueen and her husband, Bernie Garrett McQueen, Jr. of Raleigh, NC; and daughter-in-law, Marian Conger Edwards of Weldon, NC;  grandchildren, Julian Hall Edwards, II,  Marian Lansdell Conger Edwards, William Alexander Hudgins Edwards, Garrett Edwards McQueen, and Julia Hall McQueen;  sister, Mary Hudgins Williams, brother, Albert Danny Hudgins, and his wife, Dean Hardee Hudgins; and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

The family will receive friends at the residence of Marian Conger Edwards, 401 Cedar St., Weldon, NC.  Funeral services will be at the Rich Square Baptist Church, 405 East Jackson St., Rich Square, NC on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rich Square Baptist Church, PO Box 589, Rich Square, NC  27869 or Northeast Academy, 210 East Church St., Lasker, NC  27845.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service will be handling the arrangements for the Edwards family and online condolences may be directed to the family at www.garrettsykesfs.com.