Adelaide Edmondson Rush

Adelaide Warren "Addie" Rush (née Edmondson), aged 98 in years but timeless in spirit, passed away on February 7, 2026, in Burnsville, North Carolina. Born on April 29, 1927, in Glade Spring, Virginia, Addie lived a life that defied time—vibrant, creative, and filled with laughter.

Addie's early years were spent in Saltville, Virginia, where she attended grammar school before moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There she graduated from Avonworth High School and later pursued her passion for art at the Corcoran School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. Her artistic journey would become a defining thread throughout her life.

There wasn't a craft or art form that Addie didn't explore—and master. She was a gifted seamstress who lovingly stitched garments for her family and created intricate quilts that became treasured heirlooms. Her hands brought beauty into the world through knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitching, and even upholstery and stained glass. Her creativity extended beyond textiles; Addie designed many of the homes she lived in during her time in Huntsville, Alabama and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her flair for interior design left each space not only beautiful but deeply personal and functional. She was a female Frank Lloyd Wright.

Addie's life was rich with family, friends and love. She is survived by her daughter Charlotte Anita Rush; sons John Carter Rush (Paris) and Clay Fiveash Rush (Charlene); grandchildren Lizzette, Carter, Jennifer, January (Jeremy), Doug (Sarah), Lori, and Brandi; great-grandchildren Ryan, Brandon, Lore, Zach, Magdelena, Loreli; and great-great-grandchildren Braylen, Annabelle, Farrah and Adley. She also leaves behind a wide circle of cousins, nieces, nephews—and countless others who considered themselves lucky to have known her and who wished they were related.

She was preceded in death by her mother Essie Warren Gilbert; father Van Harrison Edmondson; stepfather Cecil Gilbert; sisters Juanita Felix (Jack), Mary Anderson (Buz), and Charlotte Maltby (Bill Hallock); as well as her first husband Manuel Grubbs and second husband Joseph Rush.

To know Addie was to be charmed by her wit and warmth. Those who crossed paths with her carry stories—thousands of them—of her infectious laughter and unforgettable adventures. Her presence lit up rooms and lives alike.

A celebration of Adelaide's extraordinary life will be scheduled in the future

May the memory of Adelaide Warren "Addie" Rush continue to inspire joy and creativity in all who knew her.