Stephanie Ann “Cookie” Byrd Edwards, age 63, of 824 N. Beverly Ave., Covington, Virginia died Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Salem.

She was born June 3, 1956 in Clifton Forge, Virginia to Roy Byrd Sr. and the late Helen Louise Willis Byrd. She was a member of First Church of God in Christ where she served as the pianist and also assisted playing at other churches when asked. Stephanie was a 1975 graduate of Clifton Forge High School and received her Geriatric Nursing Assistant Certificate in 1987 from JRTC. She was a former employee of Bacova Guild Inc. and Alleghany-Highlands Community Services. She was employed at Lewis-Gale Alleghany Hospital until her health began to fail her. Stephanie loved and cherished her grandchildren. She was an avid Washington Redskin fan and loved to make people laugh.

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Lee White; two sisters, Maria “Renee” Marshall and Monica “Yvette” Robinson.

Those left to cherish her memories are her husband, Ricky Thomas Edwards of Covington; a daughter, Christie Monique Hunter of Virginia Beach; two sons, Moses “Coppee” Hunter III of Covington and Keith Beron Hunter of Virginia Beach; seven sisters, Hattie Terera Barlow of Durham, NC, Betty Jean White, Sharon Denise Hearns, Regina Renee Jackson all of Charlottesville, Pamela Marshall, Latrina Richmond both of Clifton Forge, Leala Alicia Byrd of Colorado; seven brothers, Frankie Odell White of Harrisburg, PA, Rick Hearns of Washington, Roy Edward Byrd, Clifton Forge, Timothy Marshall, Otis Marshall, Jr., David “Lou” Marshall all of Clifton Forge, Hubert “Mony” Marshall of Roanoke; four grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; and special friends, Joyce Riley of Roanoke and Cynthia Christian of Clifton Forge.

In keeping with her wishes, her body will be cremated. The going home celebration will be held on Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:00 PM in First Baptist Church, Clifton Forge with Reverend Roslyn Thomas and Elder Leon Taylor officiating. The family will visit with friends on Friday afternoon from 12:00 PM until the time of service at First Baptist Church.

The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to First Baptist Church, 918 Church Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422