Christine Austin Edwards, 71, of Forrest City, Arkansas, died October 31, 2002. She was born in Blytheville, Arkansas to Frank and Effie Wooldridge Austin.
Survivors include her loving husband Oral Edwards, a son, Steve Edwards of Marianna, Arkansas, and his wife, Laura; a daughter, Susan Edwards DeRossitt of Memphis, Tennessee, and her husband Dr. James DeRossitt. She will be especially missed by her seven grandchildren, Ashley Edwards Rowton of Maumelle, Arkansas, and her husband Paul; Leigh Edwards of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Steve Edwards, Jr., of Marianna, Arkansas; Frank and John DeRossitt of Memphis, Tennessee; and Jay DeRossitt and wife Katie, and Leigh DeRossitt, all of Austin, Texas.
Chris graduated from Blytheville High School and attended Southwestern University, now Rhodes College, in Memphis, Tennessee. She and Oral moved their family to Forrest City in 1962 and made it their home. They recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a host of friends and family. She was a 40 year member of First Baptist Church in Forrest City as well as the Wayside Garden Club and Musical Coterie. She was also a member of the P.E.O. sisterhood.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Katherine Austin Hickey and her husband Ben, of Forrest City.
Visitation will be on Saturday night at First Baptist Church in Forrest City from 6 until 9 pm. Service will be on Sunday at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church with burial to follow at Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to "The Edwards Fund" at the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation, 350 N. Humphreys Blvd., Memphis, TN 38120. This fund provides meal vouchers to needy family members of hospital patients.