Edna attended grammar school in Caldwell County, TX and was sent to the Farmer's Improvement Agricultural College in Wolfe City, TX during her teen-age years for her secondary education. She later attended Prairie View College where she received a BS in Nursing in 1937. She did post graduate work at the Frederick Douglas Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during World War II while her husband was working in the shipbuilding industry. In 1945, Edna became the first black registered nurse at St. Joseph Hospital where she worked until she retired in 1974. Edna was known as an Angel of Mercy in the fifth ward community. Everyone in the area knew that they could always call on her and that she would never be too busy. She has been a board member of the Lyons Avenue Health Council and Anchor House. She took blood pressure of the senior citizens at the Julius C. Hester House until 2000. Edna was a member of the Retired Nurses Association, Harris County Retired Teachers Association, Married Ladies Social Club, Galdiolus Garden Club, Heroines of Jericho, and Blocks Organized for Neighborhood Defense (B.O.N.D.). Always active in the Antioch Baptist Church, she has served on numerous boards and auxiliaries. Edna has been a Sunday school teacher, President of the Missionary Society, Chairperson of the Deaconess Board, a member of the Emma Powell Circle, in-charge of the Crisis closet, Children's Nursery and the Antioch Food Pantry and the Blood bank coordinator. She was a mighty prayer warrior where she had her own prayer line, calling members daily and was involved in many other activities to further the work of the kingdom. Until her recent illness, she attended Church School, Women's Ministry meetings and church services regularly.

A woman of great vision, integrity and generosity, Edna contributed her time and talents toward making a difference in Houston, a city that she loved dearly.