Velia Edna Sparks Edwards

Velia Edna Sparks Edwards, 83, of Galax, Va., passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2009. She was born on November 7, 1925, in Carroll County, daughter of the late Archie Andrew and Nettie Ann Viars Sparks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Edwin Edwards; and two sisters, Marie Grubb and Sally Kitts. She was a member of Flatwoods Church of God for more than 55 years. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and the Rev. Jerry Alley, of Austinville, Va., and Judy and Rudolph Alley, of Woodlawn, Va.; grandchildren, Kenneth, Barbara, Gary, Brenda and Robert; great-grandchildren, Tiffany, Joshua, Hana, Jacob #1, Jacob #2, Mason, Samuel, Nicole, McKenzie, and Darren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Odean Scott, of Max Meadows, Va., Delphia Gregger, of Austinville, Va., R.K. Grubb, of Florida, Polly and Jesse Bowers, of South Boston, Va., and Margie Ratcliff, of Hardy, Va.; and brother, Floyd and Aline Sparks, of La Follette, Tenn. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at the Flatwoods Church of God with the Rev. Bobby Alley, the Rev. Chayton Quesenberry and the Rev. Kenneth Alley officiating. Interment will follow in West End Cemetery. The body will be taken to the church on Tuesday, October 20, 2009, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. or at the residence of her daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Rudolph Alley, in Woodlawn, at any time. Reese Funeral Home, Austinville, Va., is in charge of arrangements.