Geneva Askins Edwards

Geneva Askins Edwards, 99, of Beech Grove passed away September 17th in
Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was born November 8, 1923 to Ben and Gladys Askins. She
married Clifton Edwards, who was home on Army furlough, in 1945 on a Sunday afternoon after

church.

Geneva started her teaching career in 1943 with just 6 hours college credit in Light,
Arkansas. In 1944, she moved to Stanford and taught 1st grade- with 50 children in one room.
While at Stanford, she taught and coached their girls’ basketball team and led them to a state
runner up championship in 1947. After Stanford, she taught at Beech Grove, Lafe, and Oak
Grove where she taught 35 years in the classroom and served as principal of the Oak Grove
Elementary School. She earned her Bachelor Degree in 1964 and her Master of
Science in Education in 1974, both from Arkansas State University. She dedicated a total of 43

years of her life to education in Greene County.

She was an active member of Beech Grove Baptist Church, as well as Cornerstone
Southern Baptist Church. She played the piano weekly at Beech Grove Baptist Church. In
addition to playing the piano, she thoroughly enjoyed gardening, cooking, and sewing. In fact,

she won a youth state competition for dress-making.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Gladys Askins, her husband,
Clifton Edwards, as well as three sisters, Vira Carver, Betty Breckenridge, Kathleen Griggry,

and one brother, Charles Askins.

She is survived by her daughter Margaret (Eddie) Russom, son Jerry (Anne) Edwards,
of Paragould; four sisters, Faye Towell, Mary Smith, Frankie (Jerry) Jetton, and Shyrl Bailey;
four grandchildren, Brandon (Heather) Russom, Leigh Rogers of Paragould, Elizabeth (Josh)
McCaslin and Lauren (Caleb) McCaslin of Fayetteville; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Jenna,
Jarrett, Jude, and Jace Rogers, Jax, Madden, and Maggie Russom, Madison, William, and
Collins McCaslin, and John Thomas, Hudson, and Camden McCaslin.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, September 21st at Phillips Funeral Home from 1:00p.m. until

service time at 2:00pm at Phillips Funeral with Jay Hicks officiating.
Burial will follow at Greene County Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers are as following: Jason Boyd, Todd Clifford, Randy Joiner, Keith Mosbey,

Marty Needham, and Kevin Newsom.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church.

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