May 14, 1948 ~ June 1, 2026 (age 78)
Marsha “Mimi” Lowry Edwards skipped into our Lord’s arms Monday, June 1, 2026. Born May 14, 1948 in Trion, GA, the Summerville native excelled scholastically, graduating a year early from Chattooga County High School as salutatorian of her class.
In addition to her academic excellence, the daughter of the late Marshall and Lillian Lowry was a football cheerleader, Miss Chattooga County and voted most beautiful of her senior class. Fellow classmates state she made everyone feel special and was loved by all.
Upon graduation, Marsha studied Education at Auburn University where she was crowned Miss Fall Rush, Calendar Girl for May and pledged Kappa Delta sorority, postponing graduation for marriage and motherhood when she married (the late) Ed Kyser. The couple moved briefly to San Antonio, Texas, then brought their young family to Summerville and worked in the family retail business. Marsha devoted herself to her children, Christy and Jeff, to her community and to her church, Summerville Methodist Church.
Demopolis, Alabama, called the couple to establish roots where once again, Marsha cast her already wide net of family and friends as an avid tennis and bridge player. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at then Livingston University with honors.
Marsha taught elementary school for 20 years in Demopolis and ultimately Phenix City. She retired after she married John Edwards of Slapout, Alabama. The couple moved to Auburn where they enjoyed 17 years of marriage and 16 Auburn football seasons. John and Marsha attended Parkway Baptist Church and were devoted members of Agape Sunday School class.
The fanatic Auburn fan always wore orange and blue no matter the season. Marsha rescued many animals through the years. Her family says she had a homing signal for strays.
From elementary school friends to KD sisters, to teacher friends, from Bible studies to the nail salon, Marsha never met a stranger and made everyone feel loved. But her greatest role in life was Mimi to her grandchildren. She volunteered as room mother, attended field trips, picked them up from school when they called her sick (debatable if they really were). She attended every event she could from tennis matches to baseball to softball games to dance recitals. Even prom lead outs. If her grandchildren were involved, she was there.
God’s provision allowed her to meet and love her first great-grandchild in 2025.
While she is missed terribly by anyone who ever knew her, we all find comfort in the droves of saints waiting to greet her. No doubt every stray wagged their tails in joy because Marsha firmly believed all dogs go to heaven.
Marsha is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Lowry, and her sister, Jane Lowry Caldwell. She is survived by a son Jeff (Mandy) Kyser of Phenix City, Alabama, and a daughter, Christy Kyser Truitt, of Auburn, Alabama. Her grandchildren include Abby (Zach) Slattery, Billy (Rose) Horne, Trent Truitt and Allie Jo Kyser along with great-granddaughter Elouise “Weezie” Slattery.
Marsha is survived by her beloved husband John Edwards, stepdaughter Shannon Shumate, stepson Johnny Edwards and step grandson Brady Shumate.
Services will be Friday June 5 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home located at 1500 Frederick Road; Opelika, AL, 36801. Visitation will be from 2-3 with a funeral from 3-4, CST.
Local Obituaries brought to you by Frederick-Dean and Valley Point Funeral Homes. “Serving our communities in their time of need”.
