Edna Mae Dennis

Edna Mae Avery Dennis, 86.5 years young, beloved Mother, Wife, Meema, Sister, and Aunt, was called to her eternal resting place on January 31, 2021. She made her debut onto the world stage on August 8, 1934, in Coats, NC, born to Ira Colin Avery and Sudie Mae (Byrd) Avery Moore. 

Eight of her nine siblings predecease Edna: six brothers, Raymond, Bill, John, Clarence, Norman, Leon, and two of her three sisters, Lillian and Margaret. 

Ms. Edna was married to her high school sweetheart, Earl Lewis Dennis, for over 68 years, before he recently passed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2020. 

Earl and Edna are survived by their daughter, Teresa Kay Dennis Cummings-Rogers and her husband, William Rogers, of Santa Fe, NM; their son, Gary Lane Dennis, of Tulsa, OK; and their son, Jason Mark Dennis and his wife, Jaclyn Hargrove Dennis, of Owasso, OK; Earl and Edna's grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Jessica Cummings, Coree Rogers, Christina Shannon, Daniel Hartley, James Hartley, Justin Dennis, Wyatt Dennis, Weston Dennis, Wrett Dennis, Andrea Cummings Vardell and Greg Cummings, Edna's sister, Irona Avery Williams, of Dunn, NC; and a host of adoring great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.

Ms. Edna served her Lord and Savior all her life, traveling with her Air Force husband and young children overseas to Japan and later to Germany (where youngest son, Jason, was born), and visiting many of the European countries every chance they had on weekends and holidays. During one of Earl's assignments at the Pentagon in the US, Edna also worked there, reporting directly to Earl, and his commanding General, as a well-respected Civil Service employee for many years. She enjoyed music, playing the piano and singing in her earlier years. Edna was an animated conversationalist and excelled in a studied vocabulary (thank you, Reader's Digest), as well as acute grammar/punctuation skills. She lived for her family and was their #1 Encourager, Prayer Warrior and Cheerleader throughout her life. She was a true Southern Lady, adept at requisite Southern phrases like: "Bless your heart" or "Have you had a sufficiency" (when you were done eating) or "Do you need to be excused" (from the table or when you may need to go to the restroom), etc. 

She had a delightful laugh and a warm heart that was open to anyone who needed an uplifting word or prayer. She was a good source for familial history with her sharp memory for all family events. Ms. Edna had been battling adenocarcinoma of the small intestine/pancreas the past two years. We are thankful to the wonderful Home Hospice workers, nurses, doctors and Hospice Chaplain, as well as our loving family friend, Marian, who helped with Ms. Edna's fight for life and dignity right up to her final breath. We are especially so grateful to our very weary brother, Gary, for all his sacrifices and dedication to the 24-hour care of our dear parents over the past year and a half. A memorial service will be held in the near future whenever we are free from the confines of the Covid-19 pandemic.