Sister Bertha was born on December 24, 1920, in Moultrie, GA, to the late Willie and Ophelia Wise. She attended school in her hometown and accepted Christ as her Lord and personal Savior. In 1940, at the age of 19, just before turning 20, she moved to Tampa, FL where she worked for the a private family on Davis Island. In the 1950s, she along with others founded the New Hope M.B. Church in Tampa, under the leadership of Rev. J.G. Washington. In 1951, she served alongside Rev. C. Fluker and in 1952 with Rev. John Willis, where she remained until the mid-1970s. Within that time, she met her husband Rev. Gilford Edwards Sr. and became the first lady of the St. Matthew M.B. Church in Sulfur Springs until her husbands passing in 1996. The church relocated to its current location and became the New St. Matthew M.B Church, where she remained faithful. Sister Edwards believed with all her heart that the Lord would provide and take care of her, which he did for over 102 blessed years, and she will forever be missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. G.E. Edwards; sons, Jack Edwards Sr. (Betty), and Rev. Gilford Edwards III; parents, Willie, and Ophelia Wise; brothers, Willie Jr., James, and Jimmie Wise; and sisters, Minnie Baker, and Maggie Wise.

She leaves everlasting memories with her daughter-in-law, Jimmy Lee Edwards of Inkster, MI; daughters, Rose Mae Ellis (Richard) of Boston, MA, and Elizabeth Drayton (Freddie) of St. Louis, MO; son, Carlos Williams Sr. (Edith) of Tampa, FL; grandchildren, Jacquelyn Edwards-ONeal, Jack Edwards Jr., Evido Edwards I, Eric Edwards (Paula), Yvette Zoe Edwards-Martinez (Michael), Sain-r Edwards Sr. (Raquel), Yolunda Edwards, Latorro Edwards, Verlin Edwards (Javier), Gilford Edwards IV, Sherrissee Edwards, Monica Edwards-Wade, Riarco Ellis (Leahna), Rianardo Ellis (Tamao), Fariga Conway (Perry), Ashley Charity (Kenneth), Carlos Williams Jr., Alexandria Woodside, and Marco Williams; 35 great-grandchildren; 30 great-great- grandchildren; devoted nieces, Jaquelyn Brown (Gary) and Annie Wise; caregivers, Clarence Crawford and family, Zandra Verriet, and Maxine Durant; god-son, Joel Bamum (Doris); god-daughters, Cheryl Young, and Linda Mungin; special friends, Margaret Anderson, Mae Catherine Jackson, Deacon and Sister Young, Deacon and Sister Norman, Delores Verriett, the New St. Matthew M.B. Church family, New Hope M.B. Church family, and Shirley Taylor; and a host of other relatives, church family, and friends.

Visitation
Friday, March 17, 2023
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Aikens Funeral Home
2708 E Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Tampa, FL 33610

Funeral Service
Saturday, March 18, 2023
11:00 AM
New St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church
1006 S 50th St
Tampa, Florida 33619