Obituary of Edna Hurd

Edna Mattlee Hurd (née Horton) went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday morning (October 30, 2018) at her home following a lengthy illness.  She was 93 years old. 

Edna is survived by her husband, Walter “Frank” Hurd; her grandson, Chris Fraser and his wife, Alaina; her great-granddaughters, Isla Fraser and Tori (Austin) Dillard; her sister, Naomi (Bill) Harris; her brother, I.E. (Polly) Horton; her sister, Carlene King; and a number of nieces and nephews. 
She is preceded in death by her first husband, S/Sgt. Carl F. Gilliam, who was killed while serving in WWII; her daughter, Sheri “Janeen” Ward; her parents, Iven and Nora Horton; her sisters, Edith Horton, Vivian Willis, Maude Van Sant, Mildred Greene, Odis White; and her brother, Elwood Horton. 

Edna was born in Scott County, Virginia and lived the majority of her life in Kingsport with her husband, Frank. After graduating from Fairview school, she attended East Tennessee State College (now known as ETSU) where she earned her teaching degree. She taught elementary school in Kingsport until retiring in 1987.

Edna and Frank met while attending Fairview together and were married in 1950. In 1961 they adopted their beloved daughter, Janeen, who blessed them with their grandson, Chris, in 1980. Edna enjoyed traveling and making memories with her family. The blessing of great-granddaughters came later and brought much-needed light to Edna’s life in the years following Janeen’s death.

Edna loved projects and seemed to always keep one in progress. She enjoyed baking, sewing, and crocheting. She also loved to read and study her Bible. Over the years she was a member of a few different church congregations, including Heritage Church of God and First Christian Church of Kingsport. Edna’s faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ brought her much peace and comfort, especially as she neared the end of her extraordinary life.

All services will be held on Saturday November 3. The family will begin receiving friends at 11am, with the funeral beginning at noon at Carter Trent in Kingsport. Graveside services will be at Oak Hill Cemetery at 1pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Engage Tri-Cities (engage.cc)