Rita Yvonne Edwards

Rita Yvonne Morgan Edwards was born on March 12, 1950 in

Brooklyn, New York to Maude Dozier and Roger Morgan. 

Rita grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and matriculated though the NYC Public School

System. Rita graduated from Howard University where she studied

Education. She also earned two Master's Degrees one in Counseling and

one in School Administration. Rita was a Guidance Counselor for 30 years

working with students from elementary through high school and also young

adults seeking their GED.

Rita met her future husband, Charles Edwards while attending

Howard University. Although they knew of each other from around campus,

Rita and Charles officially met during a protest. He helped her into a

window when the students took over the Founder's Library at Howard

University. They married on May 19, 1974 and had three children - Maia

Tene, Kyree Charles, and Chevonne Tuere. Sadly Charles passed away on

May 14, 2016.

Rita was a lifelong member of Concord Baptist Church of Christ in

Brooklyn, New York. She was a member of the Gospel Choir, the World

Wide Guild and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Rita encouraged and supported

her children’s every activity in church, school and beyond. It wasn’t unusual

for Rita to expose her children to various activities within New York City like

attending productions both On and Off Broadway, exploring the World

Trade Center and the Empire State Building, as well as visiting many

museums. Rita proudly invested much of her time and energy in her

children and grandchildren. She liked traveling and spending time with

family. Rita found joy in reading and shared that with her granddaughter

Mycah in their book club. She also enjoyed playing board games. Playing

Uno with her grandson KJ was “Big Fun” for both of them. One of her

favorite games was Monopoly and she transferred her love of the game to

her granddaughter Morgan.

Rita leaves to cherish her memory her beloved aunt Minnie Haynes;

siblings Ralph Morgan, Regina Sherman, and Ramora Miller; children

Maia, Kyree (Shysheika), and Chevonne; grandchildren Mycah, Morgan,

and Kyree Junior; her best friend Valerie Faggart; and a host of family and

friends.