Brenda Herndon Edwards

Brenda Carol Herndon Edwards, age 75, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2023, with family and lifetime friend by her side at Duke University Medical Center after a brief, but heroic battle with cancer. Born October 27, 1947, to her late parents Everett Eugene and Bernice Naomi Carter Herndon, Brenda grew up and lived her entire life in the Swansonville community of Pittsylvania County. She attended Whitmell Farm Life School and graduated with the first class of Tunstall High School in 1965. On December 5, 1964, she married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Alonza “Lonnie” Lee Edwards and spent the next 55 years with him until his death in February 2020. There, they enjoyed cattle farming, hunting, fishing, gardening and canning. After settling down a few hundred yards from her parents, they raised three boys – Charles “Charlie” Lee Edwards (Tina) of Providence, N.C.; Barry Lee Edwards (Holly) of Oro Valley, Ariz.; and Damon Lee Edwards (Amy) of Dry Fork, Va. A determined woman her entire life, she opened and operated Brenda’s Cake Palace for more than 40 years, and provided joy to thousands of families through wedding and birthday cakes. While being a small business owner, she was also employed by Pittsylvania County in pupil transportation for over 36 years. For a decade, she taught cake decorating classes at the J.C. Penney’s in Piedmont Mall, sharing her artistic gift while serving as a representative of Wilton Industries. Even though she was busy, Brenda still found time to complete a college education later in life and graduated from Danville Community College with an Associate’s Degree in business. Additionally, as an avid volunteer in the community, she was the election coordinator for the Swansonville area for several decades. Brenda was of the Baptist faith and a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, sang and directed the choir. Brenda truly enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She held a passion for babysitting everyone’s child, ensuring they completed their studies and teaching them how to bake. As a loving grandmother, or Nannie as she was affectionally called, she dropped anything at hand to be with her grandchildren Sadie Lee, Dawson Lee, Brayden Lee and Ally Skye. As the family matriarch, she leaves behind three sisters – Nancy Walker (Charles); Pam Riggins (Jay); Naomi Gibson (Randy), and her best friend and care taker, Martha Crews. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and very special friends. The family will receive guests at the funeral home on October 15th, from 5 to 7 p.m., and other times at 11220 Mount Cross Road, Danville, Va. A celebration of life will be held at Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel on October 16th, 2023, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in Danville Memorial Gardens. Donations can be provided to Duke Cancer Center, 20 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, N.C. 27710. The family thanks the Duke Medicine Pavilion West 8 for the care of Brenda.

Brenda Herndon Edwards

October 27, 1947 - October 9, 2023