Edna Earle Pierson was born to parents, Ollie Leroy Woodard, Sr. and Ruby Lee Johnson on October 17, 1935 in Dallas, Texas. She was the second of five children and preceded in death by her parents and siblings Charlene (Bill), Leroy, Jr. (Helen) and Roy Lee(Vonda). Always the assertive member of the family, Edna quickly became known for her no nonsense approach to life in general. She was bold, assertive and meant what she said - the first time. Coupled with this innate sense of authority, Edna had a smart sense of humor and often kept friends and family in stitches.

Edna accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Saint Paul Baptist Church (Rev. C.D. Knight) where she was a dedicated member. She attended Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas where she was a proud member of the Class of 1955. Soon, the Road to Hempstead called, and Edna joined her older sister at Prairie View A&M University where both majored in education. Graduating in 1958, Edna returned to Dallas where she taught art to many of you at N.W. Harllee Elementary School. In between art projects, Edna met and married a handsome PE teacher, Willie Lee Pierson. Together, they joined the Greater El Bethel Baptist Church (Rev. C.C. McNealy) where Edna served as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent for 50-plus years.

Edna’s younger sister, Cassandra, was born around the time she graduated from Prairie View. Cassandra soon joined the family business of becoming an educator and PV alumna, but not before naming Edna and Willie Lee’s only child, DaMonica Michelle. As the ‘favorite daughter’, DaMonica was surrounded by a loving village consisting of many people sitting right in your seat.

A lifelong learner, Edna continued to educate herself and others. She obtained a Master of Education degree and Certification in Special Education from North Texas State University, while teaching at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center. She went on to teach Special Education students at H. Grady Spruce and Justin F. Kimball High Schools before retiring in 1994 - after 35 years of teaching. Rust did not set in because Edna somehow found time to join some of you in obtaining a PhD in Christian Counseling from the Aspen Theological Seminary while serving on the faculty at the Jesse Dawson State Jail until it closed in 2013.

Edna finally enjoyed retirement until her health declined. She later joined the Koinonia Missionary Baptist Church (Rev. Patrick Rucker) where she shared her ‘church mother’ love until her passing.

Edna is survived by her lovely daughter, DaMonica and sister Cassandra (Wayne, Sr.), nieces and nephews Shenikwa, Jerome (Nicole), Donna, Mark, Lula, Tasha, Tiny/Nedra, Wakeedra (Christopher) and Wayne, Jr. (LaKendra). She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and four siblings.

If Edna taught you, advocated for you, mentored you, honor her memory by doing the same for someone else.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 KJV