Gertie Young Smith Edmundson was born in Scotland Neck, NC on May 2, 1942. She passed away on September 21, 2017. She is now with her beloved husband John. Her husband, John Henry Edmundson, Jr. preceded in death on April 12, 2011. She was also preceded in death by her father, George “Bubba” Smith, her mother, Ella Mae Staton Smith and her brother, Ikey Powell Staton.

Gertie met her beloved John when they were freshman at North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro, NC. They first married on July 23, 1962 and again after finishing college on December 19, 1964. They were not just husband and wife but were best friends as well. They were nearly inseparable for the fifty years they were together.

Gertie was a kindred soul. Her life on earth was full of wonder and great expectations. She had a quest for knowledge and spent much of her life studying to learn new methods to deliver quality instructions.to her students. She studied at Kean University, Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickenson University. Sometimes when she talked about her love of learning, she would mention she was even certified to teach Chisanbop, a way of teaching math operations using her fingers as a keyboard. She began her teaching career with the Newark preschool Council and moved on to teach at Broadway Elementary School in Newark, NJ and at Jefferson Elementary School in Plainfield, NJ. Among her many recognitions as an excellent teacher, she was once named “Teacher of the Year” and listed in the 2004 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. After spending thirty years at Jefferson School as both a classroom teacher and as a design coach, she retired in 2004.

Shortly after retirement, she and John relocated to their roots in North Carolina. They were often teased that two people who loved city life would settle on a country highway. Seeking to keep busy in some form of literacy, she was a tutor at Wayne Community College for three years. After John’s death, she began volunteering at the community center in Statonsburg, NC. She also wrote a blog chronicling her first six months without John, Widowhood-by gertieE. Still desiring more to do, she started attending Zumba and exercise classes at the Peggy Seegers Senior Center in Goldsboro. She also volunteered there as well. People came to look forward to seeing her at the front desk on Wednesday, with her smile and quips. She created a writer’s club that helped members write valued memoirs that gave them a voice for their legacies which she turned into individual books. She created a drama club which quickly became a much anticipated event for the cast and audiences.

Gertie had many talents. She was a great cook, could put together a party at a moment’s notice, a gifted writer and artist. She has written several unpublished children’s books which her daughter vows to correct. She was a “collector” of many things - coffee mugs, cookbooks, sets of teapots, Mammies, cookie jars, and very old books. She had a knack for mixing odd things that many people would not take a chance on. She would pass it off as harmony. 

Gertie was a member of the NEA (National Education Association), Union County Retired Educators, Phi Delta Kappa sorority, Silver Blossoms chapter of the OES, and the Sweet and Sassy Red Hatters of Wilson, NC.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her daughter, Alana Gelondnese Edmundson, her grandchildren, Alannaha Martelle, Kayla Noelle, John Elijah and India Autumn Soliel, In-laws, Kim and Richard Sutton and Rodney and Mavis Edmundson, three nieces, three nephews, cousins in far away places and many dear friends, Larry Cooper, Faith Stallings, Marilyn Schweiloch, Tauifquah Mubarak, too many others to list, but ALWAYS in her heart.

The family will receive friends Saturday, September 30, 2017 from 2 until 2:45 p.m. at The Lord’s Table with the funeral following at 3 p.m. at the church.  Interment will follow at Eureka Cemetery.

The family is entrusted to Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro.

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