Judy Lynora Harris Edwards

Judy Harris Edwards, 80, of Kannapolis, passed away Sunday, June 30th, 2024 at Caremoor Retirement of Cabarrus County.

She was born January 11th, 1944 to the late James "Jim" Harris and Tessie Ward Harris of Ocean Drive, SC. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years Val Edwards, and by her sisters Jimmie Dale Leib and Pat Floyd, and brother Bernard Harris.

Judy worked in Cannon Mills for 45 years and for a short time in retirement at Walmart.

Judy was raised in Ocean Drive when it was considered the capital of beach music and shagging, and it was her own father who started it on the way to that title. He owned juke boxes up and down the coast of South Carolina and started slipping records he considered great for shagging into every one of them.

Judy grew up dancing to his music and found the perfect partner in Val. They were regulars at the pad, Fat Harold's and the Spanish Galleon. Judy frequently said she felt like she had been plunked down in the middle of the Bible Belt when Val brought her to Kannapolis in her beach short shorts. She definitely felt out of place, but eventually she fell in love with Kannapolis, and she and Val raised their three children there.

Those children will tell you they were blessed to grow up listening to their parents say "I love you babe" while sitting on the beach, fishing in the Shallotte River, or just in their carport on Normandy Road.

"Theirs was the greatest love story."

Judy is survived by two daughters, Sentrie Edwards Buie (Darren) of Shallotte and Valerie Edwards Pethel of Kannapolis; son, Vic Edwrads of Mint Hill; three grandchildren, Hayley Pethel Thompson (Kyle) of Greenville, SC, Xan Moose and Anthony Moose of Kannapolis; one great grandchild, Indiana Thompson of Greenville, SC; two bonus daughters, Gwen Honeycutt Wise of Kannapolis and Mikki Measmer Ayers of Huntersville; two brothers, Ronnie Harris of Lugoff, SC and Bill Harris (Sue) of Holiday, FL; and her 85 year old wonderful sister-in-law Arlene Edwards Thompson of Advance.

The family will receive friends from 11-12:00 pm Friday, July 5th, 2024 at Lady's Funeral Home.

Remembrances may be sent to the family online at www.ladysfuneralhome.com.

Lady's Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family of Mrs. Edwards.