Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 pm Thursday, March 15, 2012 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home with Rev. Ed Rice, Rev. Brian Nuff and Rev. Jerry Davis officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm Thursday prior to the service.

Interment services will be conducted 11:00 am Friday, March 16, 2012 at Higgins Creek Cemetery, Flag Pond, Tn. The family request that everyone meet at the cemetery at 11 am.

Active pallbearers will be Bobby Sims, Josh Sims, Tony Anderson, Doug Edwards, Norman Edwards, Eddie Mac Crain and Phillip Mashburn.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the charity of your choice.

Mrs. Verna Lela Edwards, 96, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at the Johnson City Medical Center. She was born on March 15, 1915 in Unicoi County, TN. She was the daughter of the late Lattie and Martha Crain. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her loving husband Roy Edwards, son Harold Edwards, three grandchildren Randy Fox, Tammy Fox and Mickey Edwards, three sisters Atlas Anderson, Pansy Mashburn, Dullie Edwards and two brothers Paul Crain and Floyd Crain. She is survived by a daughter Lola Fox, Jonesborough; two grandchildren Diane Williams and husband Kenny, Elizabethton and Sandy Sims and husband Bobby, Johnson City; four great-grandchildren Tiffany Hall, Josh Sims, Tina Carpenter and Tamitha Ratliff; five great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild; one sister Lucita Harris, Ridgecrest, NC; one sister-in-law Glenna Crain, Erwin; and several nieces and nephews. Verna was a member of Higgins Chapel Baptist Church, Flag Pond, and had attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Jonesborough for many years. The things that brought her the most pleasure during her life were serving the Lord, her family, friends, gospel music and flower gardening. She was a loving and caring woman who was always willing to help others. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Rose Davis for the wonderful care she provided to their mother and grandmother and to everyone who has assisted them during this difficult time.