Alvin Vernon Edwards, 82, of Mars Hill, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the John F. Keever Solace Center.

He was the son of the late George Lincoln and Dovie Fox Edwards. He was also preceded in death by two sisters: Wilma Young and Alma Green. A lifelong resident of Mars Hill, he retired from the Buncombe County School System and he was a faithful member of Cedar Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He loved spending time with grandchildren, gardening, special friends and his Sunday School class members.

Mr. Edwards is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathleen Snelson Edwards; two daughters: Sherrie Gosnell and husband, Keith, and Beverly Haney and husband, Jeff; two sons: Michael Ledford and wife, Donna, and Ricky Edwards and wife, Cindy; sister, Dahlia Wilson and husband, Rev. Rotha Wilson; three brothers: Jessie Edwards and wife, Doris, Vernon Edwards and wife, Cilla, and Bernie Edwards and wife, Wanda; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Rev. Roy McPeters, Rev. Ed Rice, and Rev. Rotha Wilson will officiate. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the funeral home. Special thanks to the staff of John F. Keever Solace Center, 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803.