Edna Garmon

With deep love and profound gratitude, we honor the life and legacy of Edna Garmon, a devoted servant of God, a lifelong learner, and a treasured matriarch whose quiet strength and deep compassion touched all who knew her.

Edna was born on November 26, 1949, in Belzoni, Mississippi, to the late James Edenburgs Sr. and Ida Mae Edenburgs. Her family later relocated to Gary, Indiana, where Edna would build a life of faith, family, and service.

She was educated in the Gary public school system and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1968. A dedicated student, Edna developed an early love for learning that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

In her teenage years, Edna gave her heart to Jesus at Zion Temple Apostolic Faith Church, beginning a lifetime of spiritual devotion. She served faithfully in numerous capacities, including Church Secretary, Sunday School Secretary, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, and Executive Board Member. She was also a devoted member of the Minister Wives and Minister Widows Alliance and served as a Business Secretary. Her faith and commitment were constants in her life, shaping the many lives she touched.

Edna's heart for service extended into her professional life as well. She worked both at a hospital and at a school, finding fulfillment in caring for others and especially in nurturing young minds. She loved working with children, and her kind spirit, patience, and joy left lasting impressions on those she helped guide and support.

On August 1, 1981, Edna married Bishop Otis C. Garmon Sr., the love of her life. Their marriage was a testament to faith, partnership, and purpose, lasting until his untimely passing in 1991. Edna continued to serve with grace and devotion in his absence, remaining a steadfast figure in her church community.

Edna was a passionate student of the Word. She owned hundreds of Bibles and spiritual books, all of which she read and studied with a deep hunger for knowledge. Her love for learning extended to the academic world, where she earned multiple certificates and degrees, including studies in Business Management, Culinary Arts, and Hotel Management. If she found a subject interesting, she pursued it fully.

Though Edna was soft spoken, her love for family was resounding. She deeply cherished her loved ones, often taking her sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews on trips to broaden their perspectives and show them the beauty and vastness of the world. She believed in exposing her family to new experiences and was devoted to their growth and joy.

Edna was preceded in death by her father, James Edenburgs Sr., three sisters: Bernice Edenburgs, Maxine Robinson, and Lue Emma Edenburgh; and four brothers: Thomas Edenburgs, James Edenburgs Jr., J.C. “Jimmy” Myles, and Lamont “Andrew” Edenburgs.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving sister Evelyn Edenburg of Minneapolis Minnesota, her brother Albert Edenburgs of Memphis, Tennessee, a host of nieces and nephews, special friends and cousins, as well as her church family and all who were blessed by her life.

Her legacy is one of faith, wisdom, generosity, and quiet strength. Edna Garmon will be deeply missed, but her impact will live on in every life she touched.