Edna Garner November 8, 1937 – November 7, 2023

Edna Browder Garner passed away at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Born on November 8, 1937 in Greene County, she was the daughter of Moses Browder and Mary Jane Browder Wade. At the age of 18, Edna married Ray Garner. They were married nearly 59 years before his passing in 2015. They had four daughters of whom they were very proud, as well as nine grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Edna proudly retired from JCPenney after 25 years of service. She enjoyed her work there and earned many sales awards over the years. After her retirement, she enjoyed catching up with her work friends at the JCPenney retirement lunches at the Golden Corral.

Edna was a devout Christian having given her life to the Lord when she was young. In fact, it was at church that she met Ray. She took her children to church every Sunday and Wednesday, and she also encouraged other young people in their walk with Christ.

As the daughter of a sharecropper, Edna grew up during the latter years of the Great Depression. Those lean times made her keenly aware of others in need. She was never happier than when she was sharing food or gifts with others who were going through hard times. She and Ray set an example of sharing for their daughters, and they do their best to honor that tradition in their own lives.

Edna enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel, shopping at thrift stores and finding a good bargain, reading inspirational romance novels, and spending time with her children, grandchildren and friends. She loved having an ice-cold Pepsi first thing in the morning to get her day started. Edna was a loving wife, mother, and Mema. Her family was the most important part of her life, and she cherished every moment spent with them all. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

The family would like to express their thanks to the staff at Kitty Askins Hospice Center, Greendale Forest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and Spring Arbor Assisted Living for the compassionate care provided to Edna during the last two years. It is greatly appreciated.

In addition to her loving husband, Ray, and her parents, Edna was predeceased by sisters, Marie Chase, Willa Dean Hanway, Sallie Whaley Grant, and brother Moses Browder, Jr. She is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law, Trish Miller (Tom) of Raleigh, Sheila Brown (Eric) of Garner, Angie Rouse (Jimmy) of Kinston, and Annette Denton (Van) of High Point. Edna is also survived by nine grandchildren who loved her dearly: Kenan Miller, Laura Miller Graybeal (Tyler), Erica Brown, Melissa Brown Roper (Stephen), Ryan Kleszczewski (Theresa), Alexis Anderson, Brandon Rouse (Tonya), Melanie Denton Foster (Leighton), John Denton, and 6 great-grandchildren; Noah, Ava, Jack, Millie, Sarah, and Henderson Rae, and her sister, Glendora Crisp of LaGrange.

The family will receive friends at Rouse Funeral Home on Friday, November 10, 2023, from 12-12:45 p.m. and other times at the home of Angie and Jimmy Rouse, 2387 Fred Everett Road, Kinston. A service of remembrance will follow at 1 p.m. in the chapel. Committal will take place at Westview Cemetery, Kinston. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Flowers are appreciated or memorial donations may be made to Mary’s Kitchen, 110 N. Independence St., Kinston, NC 28501. Obituary lovingly submitted by the family. Arrangements are by Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange, NC.