shestang's video: Edith Ann Early Perry s Celebration of Life

Obituary Edith Ann Early Perry, 77, formerly of Wingate, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2020. She was born January 8, 1943 in Henderson, NC, daughter of the late James Howard Early and Nettie Anna Hicks Early. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cleveland Perry and sister, Edna Early Worley. Funeral services will be at 3:00pm. Sunday, March 15, 2020 at Wingate Baptist Church, 109 E. Elm St. Wingate, NC 28174. Burial will follow in Wingate City Cemetery. The family will visit with friends and relatives from 4:00pm until 6:00pm Saturday, March 14,2020 at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC. Ms. Perry is survived by her daughters, Donica Perry Hudson, of Banner Elk and Desha Perry of Los Angeles and her brother, Jim Early of Winston Salem. Edith Ann Early Perry is the kind of person you never forget…witty, smart, articulate, gorgeous, genteel yet feisty and passionate, toughly pioneering yet softly nurturing…a kind soul to those who were hurting…a helping hand to those in need…a melody to lift your spirits with her trained voice, upbeat songs she wrote and piano playing that charged the room with excitement …“Mama Bird” to the students she so loved and who so loved her…she was a force for good to be reckoned with…and her legacy lives on through all those she has touched with her love…family, students and even strangers. THE SOURCE OF HER LOVE From an early age, Edith was inquisitive. At age 5, Edith invited her Pastor to visit her family in their parlor to inquire about God. By faith, Edith accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and served him all the days of her life. She was quick to point to the Holy Spirit living within her as the source of her love—and boy did she share that love well! She was known for her hugs, for her good food baked with love for family, friends and those in need, for her wise counsel and for seeing the good in students and lovingly educating them to reach their full potentials.THE PIONEER Edith Perry truly did represent the people of Union County well, becoming the first woman elected to the Union County Board of Education and the first woman to become Chairman. Edith also served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention for Ronald Reagan. She was encouraged to run for Congress but chose to return to the students she so loved in the classroom instead, retiring as Forest Hills High School’s senior English and A.P. English Teacher. Edith was an accomplished dramatic soprano soloist singing in church, in the All-America City Chorus and at Wake Forest College. She was a songwriter and pianist, poet, and water color artist who’s first painting travelled overseas with an American Art Exhibit for three years during her high school and college years. Edith was a beauty queen named Forsyth County Dairy Princess and Hanes High School Annual Queen. She was also a scholar, graduating from Wake Forest College in 3.5 years on the Dean’s List with a B.A. English Major, History Minor. It was at Wake Forest where Edie met the love of her life, Don Perry, who was in law school. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage in Don’s hometown of Wingate, NC where Edie loved his family as her own. They cherished their church family at Wingate Baptist and served the community well. Edie enjoyed riding her horses and pouring her life into her two girls, Donica and Desha. Her girls will tell you that what did best was love family and people well, especially her five grandchildren. She will be greatly missed but her girls are rejoicing that she is now healed and reunited with their father in heaven and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Memorials may be made to I.H.P. Global Ministries Inc., PO Box, 206, Banner Elk, NC 28604, please list “Edie Perry Educational Scholarship” in the memo line. Online condolences may be made at www.gordonfuneralservice.com Gordon Funeral Service and Crematory is caring for the Perry family. To send flowers to the family of Edith Ann Perry , please visit Tribute Store.