Edith Ann Early Perry Celebration of Life

Edith Ann Early Perry, 77, formerly of Wingate, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2020. She was born January 8, 1943 in Henderson, NC, daughter of the late James Howard Early and Nettie Anna Hicks Early. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Donald Cleveland Perry and sister, Edna Early Worley.

Funeral services will be at 3:00pm. Sunday, March 15, 2020 at Wingate Baptist Church, 109 E. Elm St. Wingate, NC 28174. Burial will follow in Wingate City Cemetery. The family will visit with friends and relatives from 4:00pm until 6:00pm Saturday, March 14,2020 at Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Avenue, Monroe, NC.

Ms. Perry is survived by her daughters, Donica Perry Hudson, of Banner Elk and Desha Perry of Los Angeles and her brother, Jim Early of Winston Salem.

Edith Ann Early Perry is the kind of person you never forget…witty, smart, articulate, gorgeous, genteel yet feisty and passionate, toughly pioneering yet softly nurturing…a kind soul to those who were hurting…a helping hand to those in need…a melody to lift your spirits with her trained voice, upbeat songs she wrote and piano playing that charged the room with excitement …“Mama Bird” to the students she so loved and who so loved her…she was a force for good to be reckoned with…and her legacy lives on through all those she has touched with her love…family, students and even strangers.

THE SOURCE OF HER LOVE
From an early age, Edith was inquisitive. At age 5, Edith invited her Pastor to visit her family in their parlor to inquire about God. By faith, Edith accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior and served him all the days of her life. She was quick to point to the Holy Spirit living within her as the source of her love—and boy did she share that love well! She was known for her hugs, for her good food baked with love for family, friends and those in need, for her wise counsel and for seeing the good in students and lovingly educating them to reach their full potentials.