Katharine Sefronia Lewis Edwards

1919 - 2008

Katherine Sefronia Lewis Edwards, 89, of Roanoke, departed this life on Saturday, August 30, 2008, in a local nursing home. She was born in Roanoke County on April 27, 1919, to the late Sam Lewis and Emma Boyd Lewis. She was the youngest of seven children. In addition to her parents, Sefronia was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 36 years, Henry Taylor Edwards; two brothers, Marion Lewis and Lynwood Lewis; four sisters, Sarah Hairston, Clara Askew, Beatrice Wiley, and Senobia Williams; a special sisterin-law, Grace Edwards; and a special cousin, Kathleen Alexander. Sefronia received her early education in the Roanoke County Schools. In 1948, she graduated from Cunningham School of Beauty Culture in Richmond, Va. She worked as a beautician for many years. She also did domestic work for several families in the area.
Sefronia joined Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church at the age of 16. She was a faithful and devoted member for 60 years. While there she was an usher, a choir member, a deaconess, and a missionary. She was president of the Missionary Circle for 25 years.
In 1995, under the leadership of Bishop Antonio D. Thomas, she became one of the founding members of Spirit of Life Church International. Here she served as a deaconess until her health declined.
Her survivors include a devoted friend whom she considered her son, John (Chastity) McBroom, of Elliston, Va.; two nephews, David Lynwood (Gussie) Hairston, of Brentwood, Calif., and Calvin Edwards, of Salem, Va.; four great-nephews, Godfrey (Mary) Phillips Jr., Frederick Phillips, and Glen Phillips, of Roanoke, Va., and DeAnthony Phillips, of Seattle, Wash.; three greatnieces, Freelya Perkins and Tonlya (Greg) Bowden, of Roanoke, Va., and Paulette Anderson of Berlin, Germany; special cousins, Stafford Lewis, Delores Helm, Heather Helm, Loretta Bullock and Mary High, all of Roanoke, Va., Barbara Eni, of Elliston, Va.; a special neighbor and friend, Pat Henry; her loyal church family; her devoted caregivers, Nannie Taylor, Pearl Alexander and Willie Mae Artiss; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, September 5, 2008, at Spirit of Life Church International with Dr. David C. Forbes Jr. officiating. The interment will be in Williams Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service. Friends may call on Thursday afternoon, September 4, 2008, for viewing at Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.Hamlar-Curtis.com.