Gwendolyn Virginia McLaurin Edwards, 82, of Eastover passed away on Monday, June 12, 2023, at First Health Medical Center in Moore County after a brief illness.

Gwen was born on November 20, 1940, in Eastover to the late David Worth McLaurin and Virginia Melvin McLaurin.

She was a 1959 graduate of Central High School, and she was a 1963 graduate of The Women's College of North Carolina which was the last year before becoming UNCG. In 1976 she graduated from ECU with a Master of Arts in Education. In 1986 Gwen received her Doctor of Education from Nova University.

When in high school Gwen became the first female school bus driver in Cumberland County. She was later the first-female Jr. High School Principal. Over her 30 year career, Gwen taught Home Economics at Pine Forest High School, was a supervisor with the Cumberland County School Food Service, Assistant Principal with Cumberland County Schools and retired in 1995 as Principal of Armstrong Middle School.

She was an active member of Salem Methodist Church where she was involved in many of the church organizations including the Juanita Warren Women's Circle and she served as the first Chairperson of the Daycare Board.

Gwen was the current president of the Averasboro Civil War Battlefield Commission, and a member and former president of the Dig-A-Bit Garden Club in Eastover.

Her passion was sewing and embroidering, and she was a heirloom seamstress. In 1958, she won the National 4-H Clothing Award.  One of her many hobbies was collecting antique sewing machines, one of which was recently filmed for the Antique Road Show in Raleigh.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at  1p.m. at Salem Methodist Church with the Rev. Gill Wise officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 11:45 – 12:45 prior to the service at the Church.

In addition to her parents, Gwen was preceded in death by her brother, William "Billy" Melvin McLaurin.

She is survived by her husband, Clyde Edwards with whom she would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on June 30, 2023; daughters, Virginia Ann Edwards and husband Bikash Roy, Tracy Edwards Gorman and husband Dave; grandchildren, Gwendolyn Louise Gorman and Zera "Zeke" David Gorman; and a brother Michael David McLaurin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Salem Methodist Church, 3947 Dunn Rd., Eastover , NC 28312.

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online Condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com

Salem Methodist Church
2165 Middle Rd., Fayetteville NC 28312
Tel: 1-910-483-8959
Email: info@salemfnc.org
Web: http://www.salemfnc.org