Ms. Brenda Jonas Edwards, 59, also called “Lucy” was born in Cleveland County on December 25, 1954, fought a battle with cancer for two months.  She was sick for years prior to her diagnosis in May of this year, but her primary care physician, no doctor, nor specialist was unfortunately able to locate her medical problem until it became a terminal illness with little time left to live.  She died at Kings Mountain Hospice House at 2:45 AM on July 23, 2014.

Brenda was the daughter of the late Carl and Lois Greene Jonas.  She lost her husband and soul-mate, Ron Edwards, ten years ago to cancer also, and her father and father-in-law to this same disease.  She hoped to one day spend time as an advocate for cancer and its causes and symptoms, but her extremely low immune system kept her from being active in many of the goals she had including work at her church, Putnam Baptist Church. Also preceding her in death were her maternal grandparents, Ralph and Clara A. Greene, great-grandmother, Lula Allen Greene, and paternal grandparents Willie and Beulah Jonas. She was preceded in death by the majority of her family on both sides, although she had a wonderful church family at Putnam Baptist Church in Shelby, who were so loving and supportive during her months of Stage IV lung cancer.

She is survived by her only sibling, brother Larry Douglas Jonas, nephew Matthew Jonas and wife Sandy; their children Gavin and Brayden, all of Rutherford County.  Brenda has one daughter, Amanda Jackson Greene and her husband, Jeff, and grandsons, Eli and Nathan, all of Cleveland County.

Brenda had loved her career as a licensed psychological Associate, a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor and an  EAP associate, providing employee assistance to local industries and our local hospitals.  She became disabled working with children who were unable to attend regular school due to their severity and number of psychological disorders.  This ended her “helping” career which she loved so much.  In addition to her work, she loved trying to make pottery and raise puppies.  She was an avid flower gardener and spent many hours in her yard until her disability ended all of her hobbies and career.

Brenda had a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Arts from Appalachian State University in Clinical Psychology.  As mentioned above, she went on to have certifications in Employee Assistance and Alcohol and Drug Treatment. 

Brenda will be missed by many, especially all those she helped through the therapy she provided at her practice of REACH in Shelby.

She will be missed by her small family and church family.

A celebration of life graveside service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Salem United Methodist Church in Bostic, NC, officiated by Rev. Bryan Glisson.  The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service. Brenda will be buried next to Ron Edwards, which was one of his last requests of her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Putnam Baptist Church, 1146 County Home Road, Shelby, NC, 28152 or Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.

Cecil M Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Ms. Edwards.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com