OBITUARY Katherine Banks Edwards January 3, 1928 – February 2, 2019 Katherine Banks Edwards, 91, died peacefully at home with her family on February 2, 2019. Kathy was born on January 3, 1928 in Chattanooga, TN to Woodruff Asbury Banks, M.D. and Katherine Harris Banks. She attended The Bright School and Girls’ Preparatory School in Chattanooga and Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA.
Kathy met her devoted husband, George Sadler Edwards of Rocky Mount, NC while he was at The McCallie School in Chattanooga. They were married on September 6, 1949 and after George graduated from Davidson College, they lived briefly in Rocky Mount followed by ten years in Chapel Hill, where George completed his studies at UNC School of Medicine. The couple and their three children moved to Raleigh where George opened a private practice in Orthopaedic Surgery in 1962.
Kathy was instrumental in helping set up the practice and was the first bookkeeper in the early years. Their fourth child was born in Raleigh. With a lifelong passion for art and travel, Kathy was a docent at the North Carolina Museum of Art and volunteered as a tour guide for school groups.
She was a tour leader for the Museum Associates of the North Carolina Museum of History, where she planned and led trips for many years. For over fifty years, Kathy was an active member of White Memorial Presbyterian Church. She was an Elder, taught Bible Study and was a fixture in the balcony on Sunday mornings.
Kathy was also a longtime director of the Wedding Guild Committee at White Memorial, where she enjoyed conducting countless weddings. Kathy was predeceased by her only brother, Woodruff “Woody” Asbury Banks, Jr., M.D. of Chattanooga, and brother- and sister-in law, Ryland and Margaret Edwards of Rocky Mount. She is survived by her husband, George Sadler Edwards, Sr., M.D. of the home, her four children, George Sadler Edwards, Jr., M.D. (Lynn) of Raleigh, Nancy Edwards Fitzgerald (Harry) of Winston-Salem, Elizabeth Edwards Gladden of Atlanta, Woodruff Asbury Banks Edwards (Meredith) of Darien, CT.
Kathy is survived by nine grandchildren: Susan Edwards Lewis (Daniel) of Wilmington, NC, George Sadler Edwards III, M.D. (Rebecca) of Raleigh, Julia Edwards Ainsley (Newman) of Washington, DC, Lee Fitzgerald Kennelly of Charlotte, Katherine Fitzgerald Kenney (Jay) of Charlotte, Nicole Matthews (Asher) of Pomona, NY, Ashley Melissa Gladden of Atlanta, Anna Woodruff Edwards and Katherine Alexander Edwards of Darien, CT. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Elizabeth and Jeffrey Lewis, George R. and Hurley Edwards, Kevin and Anna Kennelly and Harry Kenney. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Dr. John A. Edwards (Evelyn) of Greensboro, and sister-in-law, Margie Banks of Chattanooga.
A private graveside service will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, followed by a memorial service at White Memorial Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 8, 2019. The family will receive visitors in The Jane Bell Gathering Space immediately following the service. The family would like to express their gratitude to Kathy’s caregivers from HomeWerks and Transitions LifeCare.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or the charity of choice. Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh, NC.
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