Adrian Nicholson Edwards

Adrian Edwards, formerly of Briarwood in Portsmouth, died peacefully surrounded by loving family. She was the widow of Gordon T. Edwards Sr. Adrian was born Feb. 25, 1919, and was the daughter of Lillian Burton Nicholson and Adrian Riddick Nicholson formerly of Edenton. Five generations of Burtons made their home in Edenton. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Ida Catherine Midgett, formerly of Elizabeth City. Adrian is survived by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Gordon T. and Andrea Kiriluk Edwards of Portsmouth, their son, Maj. G. Taylor Edwards and his wife Melissa and children Nicholas and Lauren of Montgomery, Ala. She is also survived by her loving daughter, Shela and husband John Edmonds of Portsmouth, their son Michael Hines and his daughter Lillian Schubert Hines of New York City. Mom will be remembered for her brilliant smile, service to others and loyalty to family. She was a member or past member of DAR, UDC, Daughters of the American Colonists, Jamestown Society and also a member of the Music Study Club of Portsmouth and the Students Club of Portsmouth. She was a past founding member of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church and more recently a member of Monumental United Methodist Church. Mom was an avid genealogist and had visited with the Burtons in England and traveled to the Isle of Skye to trace the Nicholson name back to the McNichol clan. She loved to travel and spent many weeks with close friends and adventurous traveling companions from this area on several self-guided trips to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. She also traveled to Germany, Egypt and Israel and cruised to Mexico and the Caribbean. In her 70s, she fearlessly rode a camel on a dare from family and climbed the ruins at Tulem to say she had been there and done it all. Mom was always ready for a road trip with friends or family and had hat in hand and a small suitcase always on the ready. In her honor, and in lieu of flowers, we would suggest a donation to the Portsmouth Public Library and/or the Portsmouth Foundation or Portsmouth Museums. We would like to thank Connie Thurner for her companionship at home. We would like to thank all of the Chesapeake Wing of Bon Secours Maryview Nursing Center for the excellent, kind and loving care given Mother in her final years. She was truly in a place filled with love and we are grateful for their help and care. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens by Chaplain Chuck Levitt. The family will receive friends in Loving Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel, Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.

Adrian Nicholson Edwards

February 10, 2009