Edwards Family Descendents
Family First
REACHING BACK TO GO FORWARD
Earnest and Edna Mae Edwards lived in Wilmington North Carolina and together they had three children. The oldest was Ernestine Ella (Edwards) Johnson, Robert Henry Edwards and the youngest was Adelaide Elizabeth (Edwards) Murphy.
The Three Ancestors: Ernestine, Robert, and Adelaide
Ella Ernestine Johnson
Ella Ernestine Johnson, affectionately known as Teenie was born on April 25,1921 in Wilmington, North Carolina. At an early age the family moved to Brooklyn New York and later to Philadelphia, PA. where she met and married Harry W. Johnson. They married on her birthday April 25, 1943. To this union two sons were born Eric and Maurice, better know as Ricky and Mickey. Prior to moving to Philadelphia, Teenie attended school in New York City P.S 47, it is not known which school she attended in Philadelphia. In 1947, she joined the Enon Baptist Church and was the faithful member on the Radio Gospel Choir. She was also a faithful member of the Nurse’s Unit and Vice President of the Sunshine Club before her health failed. Teenie had such a great and pleasing personality and a smile everyone adored.Earnestine departed this life on Tuesday, March 7, 1989 at 12:00 noon in the Episcopal Hospital. At the time of her departing this life she left to cherish her memory her husband Harry, 2 sons, Eric and Maurice, 6 grandchildren, Shawn, Eric Jr, Omar, Tony, Natasha and Thomasina, her father Earnest, sister Adelaide Murphy, daughter – in – law Blondell, brother – in-law – Raymond Murphy, a host of nieces, nephews and great nieces, nephews and relatives.
Robert Henry Edwards
Robert was born on September 20, 1922 in Wilmington, North Carolina and later moved to New York City where he attended PS. 47 in Brooklyn New York. Robert was affectionately know as BUSS and his craft was tailoring. Upon moving to Philadelphia he started his own tailoring and alterations business working out of his house in North Philly. Later he worked as a tailor from a cleaners at 17th and Cumberland. BUSS was also know as Mr Fixit for doing numerous home repairs. He served his tour of Army Duty In Seoul, South Korea. His wife, the late Jeanette Edwards preceded him in death two years before he departed this life. BUSS joined the Enon Baptist Church in September 1986. Because of his illness he was baptized and given the right hand of fellowship during a Tuesday night Prayer Meeting of which his sister Adelaide Murphy was the president. His illness had taken a turn for the worse and he was in and out of the hospital. He departed this life on October 30, 1987 at 12:30pm in the Hahnemann Hospital.
At the time of BUSS departing this life he left behind two daughters Edna Mae Brown and Lillian Edwards, one son Robert Jr, his father Earnest Edwards who at the time resided in Washington DC, his two sisters Ernestine Johnson and Adelaide Murphy, seven grandchildren, one great-granddaughter two brother – in laws and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and at the time his loving and devoted friend, Elease Dixon.
Adelaide Elizabeth Murphy
Adelaide Elizabeth Murphy, more so know as “Addie” was born on September 10, 1927 in Wilmington North Carolina to Edna Mae and Ernest Edwards. At an early age the family moved to Brooklyn New York where she attended school at PS. 47 until the family moved to Philadelphia, PA. She continued her education by attending Gillespie Jr High and graduated with honors from Simon Gratz High School. She also attended Spring Garden Business Institute, where she was on the honor roll. She was a member of the Missionary Society, which is the highest expression the Christian Life. She was President of the Trustee Aid Board, Secretary of the Senior Usher Board, Member of the Tuesday Night Prayer Band, one of the chosen of the Pastor’s Evangelistic and Outreach Committee and also a member of the Eastern Stars. Addie’s hobbies included sewing, reading, and collecting gospel albums.
At the time of her death she was married to Trustee Raymond Murphy, and they placed their hand in marriage on April 17, 1970. Immediately after her retirement she became desperately ill and departed this life October 25, 1992. Leaving behind her husband Raymond Murphy, her daughter Helen Elizabeth Hunter and son Yusuf Abdul-Hafiz, nine grandchildren, Trina, Yvette, Donna, Tracey, Abdul-Rahman, Zainab, Jeffery, Atiyya and Amira, eleven great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews cousins, one brother – in – law, two daughters-in-law and many more relatives and friends.