Bea Edwards died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at River Region Medical Center. She was 74.

Mrs. Edwards was born in Hot Springs, Ark., to Albert Helton and Delma Halverton Helton. She attended Fountain Lake High School in Hot Springs and graduated from Starkville High School. She attended Mississippi State University.

She lived in Starkville for 18 years and had been a Vicksburg resident since 1970. She was secretary for Local 619, Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, for 10 years. 

Mrs. Edwards was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 2572 Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the American Legion Post 3 Ladies Auxiliary. She was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jerry Helton and Leonard Helton.

She is survived by her husband, Grady Edwards Jr. of Vicksburg; two daughters, Nancy Synnott of Jackson and Leanne Edwards of Duncan, S.C.; and seven sisters, Mary Jo Dartt, Betty Hawthorn, Kathleen Fox, Onita Long, Hazel Spears, Opal Husley and Annie Lou Ennis.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Riles Funeral Home with the Revs. Tim Edwards and Jerry Paul Edwards officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight.

Pallbearers will be Marty Crevitt, Tom Tinney, Tom Caruthers III, Tom Caruthers IV, Adam Caruthers, Mike Edwards, Allen Edwards and Larry Ashley.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Moose Lodge, American Legion Post 3, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2572 and members of the Local 619 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.