Edwards Family Page Home

The Edwards' of Southwest Virginia

Brice EDWARDS was born about 1788 probably in or near Patrick County, Virginia. He married Jane RAKES of Patrick County. The couple had several children, one of whom was Lewis EDWARDS.

Lewis EDWARDS was born March 10, 1812 in Franklin County, Virginia. In 1832, Lewis married Nancy HOWELL. Nancy was born June 17, 1809 to Benjamin and Elizabeth KENDALL HOWELL. Their Children were:

  1. Andrew Jackson born March 9, 1833 and died April 10, 1925.

  2. Brice died about 21 years of age

  3. Benjamin Howell born June 26, 1838.

  4. Amy Ann

  5. Arminta born January 26, 1842.

  6. Nancy Jane died about 35 years of age.

  7. Martha born March 14, 1850.

  8. John T. born March 14, 1850. He was a twin to Martha.

    Nancy HOWELL EDWARDS died in 1860 from dropsey. Later that year, Lewis EDWARDS married Mary GRIZZLE. They had four children.

    1. William Lewis born in 1862. He was an Elder of the Sandlick Baptist church where his father was also an Elder.

    2. Sarah Ellen born in 1865 and died in 1885.

    3. Rebecca in 1867.

    4. Isaac M. born in 1870.

Andrew and Crissie Deel Edwards

Andrew Jackson EDWARDS moved to Russell Co. Virginia in 1854. He married Christinia(Lucretia) "Crissie" DEEL. Crissie's parents were David Widener DEEL and Mary Anne COLLEY. The couple are buried in Edwards Cemetery, Birchleaf, Virginia. Andrew and his brother Benjamin both served with the Confederate Army during the Civil war. They were in Co E. of the 21st Cavalry. Andrew and Crissie had the following children.

  1. Pricey Jane born 1856.
  2. Brice Hamilton born October 2, 1857. He married Sarah "Sally" Hay(sister of Columbus Hay). See the Hay page.
  3. Mary Ann "Polly" born 1859.
  4. Noah Counts born 1861.
  5. Jeremiah born 1863.
  6. Lewis born and died 1865.
  7. Nancy Belle born 1866.
  8. Clinsy Purtina born 1868.
  9. Joshua C. born 1870.
  10. Matilda born 1873.
  11. David Widner born June 26, 1875.
  12. Alafair born 1877.

 

Dave and Alice Wright Edwards

David Widner EDWARDS was born June 26, 1875. He died on December 22, 1948. He was named for his maternal grandfather, David Widener DEEL. On November 8, 1894, he married Martha Alice Wright. Alice was born in 1878 and died in 1946. They had the following children:

  1. Merdith Martin born January 11, 1897 and died June 4, 1967. He married Martha Ellen MULLINS. Martin was an Elder of the Sandlick Baptist Church and also drove a school bus. He and Ellen had three children. Martin later married Mae POWERS. Mae was born January 13, 1906 and died February 9, 1984. They had nine children.
  2. Flora McIvory was born January 15, 1899 and died October 3, 1972. She married her first husband Charlie DEEL when she was 16 years old. Charlie died less than three years later. They had two children who both died as young children. Flora's second husband was Henry OWENS. They had six children.
  3. Arthur was born September 16, 1900 and died in March 1972. He married Margie Alice HAY.
  4. James Carl married Mary Goldie POWERS. They had seven children and adopted a grandchild.
  5. Lawrence Hadley was born July 27, 1905 and died July 31, 1962. He married Eva Lee POWERS on September 26, 1926. They had six boys. Hadley married Estelle TILLER SUTHERLAND after Eva's death.
  6. Eura married Ersel EDWARDS. Ersel was the son of Brice and Iowa COLLEY EDWARDS. They had one daughter.
  7. Bonnie Victoria was born May 15, 1910 and died in 1999. She married Taylor VIERS in 1930 and they had two children. Bonnie's second husband was Ray Calvin DUTY.
  8. Verna was born in 1914 and died in 1973. She owned food businesses in Haysi and wrote a column for the local paper. She married John William Victor ANDERSON in 1931. They had two children. Victor died in 1973 and Verna married Walter ADKINS.
  9. Cecil was born March 17, 1916 and died September 26, 1973. He first married Phyllis WALLACE MULLINS. They had one child who died young. Cecil's second wife was Mabel OMSTEAD. They adopted two daughters. Cecil's third wife was Florence VIERS MATTICS.

 

Arthur and Margie Hay Edwards

Arthur EDWARDS was born in Dickenson County, Virginia on September 16, 1900. He married Margie HAY in 1920 when he was 20 years old and she was 15. Arthur worked at different jobs throughout his life. He was a game warden for five years in Dickenson County. His longest job was in the coal mines from where he later acquired Black Lung. Arthur passed away in March, 1972. He and Margie had 15 children and an adopted grandaughter.

  1. Alonzo born July 21, 1921 in Dickenson County, Virginia. He married Mary Agnes NEAL.
  2. Walter Lester born February 15, 1923 and passed away July 4, 1966. He married Pearl ANDERSON. They have seven children.
  3. Junior Clayton married Virginia HONAKER. They have 10 children.
  4. Alline (or Allene) born February 13, 1932, died young.
  5. Trenton Alvin is unmarried.
  6. Elmer Cledith born November 29, 1935, died young.
  7. Elma Jean who married Charlie STEVENS, then Billy RASNAKE. 4 children.
  8. Allen Clifford married Zelphie WOODS. 5 children.
  9. Andy Curtis born 1937, died 1952.
  10. Elva Frances married Donald RASNAKE. 3 children.
  11. Bobby Hadley married Sandra Noble. 4 children.
  12. Jackie Lee born March 1943 in Dickenson Co. VA, died June 21, 1996. Married Gloria ZELLNER. 4 children.
  13. Mack Arthur has married 4 times and has 6 children.
  14. Jerry Ray born March 9, 1946, died October 13, 1993. Married Diana ZELLNER-2 children. Married second Sue RAMEY, 1 child.
  15. Dorothy May born December 28, 1947, died young.
  16. Rita Jo married Leonard Ray POWERS. 3 children.

    Alonzo and Mary Neal Edwards

    Alonzo Edwards was born July 21, 1921 in Dickenson County, Virginia. He joined the Marine Corps on November 14, 1939 when he was 18 years old. He was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, serving mainly in the southern Pacific area. He received a Purple Heart for wounds incurred at Guadal Canal. On June 7, 1949, he married Mary Agnes NEAL of Clinchco, Virginia. He worked in the coal mines in Dickenson County, Virginia before becoming employed by General Motors. He passed away on October 26, 1970. He and Mary had three children.