Funeral services for Essie Mae Edwards, 64, of Fowlstown, Ga., were held Saturday, Feb. 6, at Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Fowlstown with the Rev. Douglas Smith and Pastor John Thomas officiating.

Interment followed in the church’s cemetery with Nate Milline, Isreal Milline, Joseph Millin, Keith Edward, Deion Smith, Robert Brown, Darius Smith and Willie Scott serving as active pallbearers.

Born March 23, 1945, in Bainbridge, Ms. Edwards died on Jan. 29, 2010, at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge.

Ms. Edwards received her education at Pine Grove School in Faceville and graduated from Mount Moriah High School in Attapulgus in 1965. In 1966, she moved to Rochester N.Y., where she was very active in her church. In 1987, Ms. Edwards moved back to Bainbridge and joined Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the church’s gospel choir and her gospel group, the Nobeletts.

Ms. Edwards was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and hard worker. She worked on the family farm as well as other farms; worked for the SS Kressage department store; also worked in factories for companies such as Crossriver, Hickok, Kodak; worked at Bainbridge Health Care and also worked as a school cook. She enjoyed cooking, singing, fishing, sewing, playing Scrabble and spending time with family.

Survivors include a daughter, and son-in-law Rochonda and John Harris; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Nathan Jr. and Pinky Edwards of Rochester, N.Y., Collin J. Edwards of Flint, Mich., and John L. and Amanda Edwards of Bainbridge; six sisters and brothers-in-law, Eudean and the Rev. Douglas Smith, Martha and Quincy Gilchrist, Alice and Howard “Putney” Nix, Gloria and Jimmy Scott and WIllie Mae Edwards, all of Rochester, N.Y., and Vera and Roy Milline of Tallahassee, Fla.; two grandchildren, Ashante Faith Harris and John Henry Harris Jr. of Brinson; two step-grandchildren, the Rev. Antonio Jacobs and Latoya Lashea Harris of Bainbridge; a great-grandchild, Janiyah Spann; special dedicated cousins, Idella Emanuel and Bennie Jakes; as well as uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Jacobs Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.