Carene Estelle Brown Edwards

Carene Estelle Brown Edwards, 87, of Chester, Virginia died Thursday, November 2, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irving Maurice and Nellie Haire Brown; and her brothers, Maurice Condit Brown, and Ronald Kent Brown.

Born on October 5, 1936, she was the youngest child of 2 brothers, a daddy’s girl. Although times were tough, she had a happy childhood. She came to know Christ as a young child when her mom, Nellie Bernice would walk her to the corner church in Hopewell, VA. She grew tall and played basketball in high school and became president of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). From learning to type, to running the data processing department in the city of Colonial Heights, Virginia, the business world became one of her many legacies. Her jobs took her from Virginia to California and back. With her amazing business skills, she worked at Garfinkel’s Ladies Apparel and State Planters Bank of Commerce and Trust in Hopewell. Then onto Douglas Aircraft Co., Hughes Tool Co., Amelco, Inc, and Packard Bell Electronics in California. She moved home to take care of her ailing dad and met her dashing husband, Clay, had 3 children, and started her 30 year career with the City of Colonial Heights as supervisor of the data processing department and still found time to be a room-mom, raise a garden every year, and be our girl scouts leader. She retired in 2000. Along the way she took courses in banking at University of Richmond, Army Functional Foul Systems, Basic Military Correspondence Training, and Fundamentals of Real Estate. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, crafts, hobby collecting, being active in Richmond Emmaus Walks, her church, and traveling.

There are really no words that can describe Carene Estelle Brown Edwards, she was and is a very precious daughter of our Father God. We will find it difficult to miss a day without thinking of her graciousness, and genuine love for all those that God placed on her journey towards her Heavenly Home. She absolutely loved her Lord and it showed to everyone she met. Although she will be missed abundantly, we know where she is and that gives us comfort to keep our eyes focused on one day being together for all eternity. Just her name alone describes the essence of who she was. Estelle, a shining star who lit up the world with her caring (Carene), thoughtful nature. She cared for others like no one I have ever met. Her thoughts, prayers, and actions were always directed for, at or on others. Whatever she had personally going on, it didn’t matter because whomever God placed in her path, she did exactly what God has told us all to do, she listened, loved, and discipled them towards God’s grace, mercy, peace, and love. Everyone that has been in her presence will tell you that she made them feel cared for and deeply loved.

She is survived by her husband, Claiborne Eugene Edwards; her children, Kenna Owen, Robin Gayle, Lisa Rene’ and spouse, Timothy Lee Brock; granddaughters and their spouses, Lauren and Jacob Smith, Emily and Benjamin Holt, Sarah and Daniel Freshley, great-grandchildren, Jackson Luke, Caroline Grace, and William Henry Smith, Henry Brickman Holt, and Peighton Grace Freshley; sisters-in-laws, Nickie Brown and Mary Lou Jenkins; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at Ivey Memorial Methodist Church, 17120 US Route 1, Colonial Heights VA 23834. A livestream of the service can be seen here https://www.facebook.com/IveyMemorialChurch on Sunday November 12 at 1:00 p.m.. Interment will be conducted at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Ivey Memorial Methodist Church for the Carene B. Edwards Emmaus Scholarship fund.