Mrs. Harriet Edwards Smith, affectionately known as "Aunt Hat", daughter of the late Thomas Jefferson Edwards, Sr. and Buena Vista Edwards, was born November 16, 1920 in Henrico County, VA. She passed peacefully on February 18, 2024 at Trinity Glenn Skilled Nursing Facility. She was 103 years old.

She graduated from Virginia Randolph High School and attended Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA. In her early 20's, Harriet moved to New York City to follow her brother, Tommy Edwards, who was beginning his singing career that resulted in the gold record recording "It's All in the Game". Harriet blossomed in New York City as she honed her skills as a seamstress, alterations expert, artist and songwriter. She received an associate degree from New York University where she gained additional skills in layout and design leading to employment as a commercial artist.

In 1972, when she was in her early 50's, her entrepreneurial life began when she started designing, distributing/selling her own collection of African American greeting cards. In fact, several of the original cards were displayed at First Baptist Church's inaugural Art Exhibit on November 13, 2022.

Harriet relocated to Winston-Salem, NC in 1991 to be close to family. She was an active member of First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue, where she participated in Sunday School and the Senior Adult Ministry. Being self-employed, she used her expertise in clothing alterations to provide services for Smith Dry Cleaners, Elise Marie Boutique and for clients in her home. She was 86 years old when she retired.

Through her active life, she enjoyed church, all forms of art, sewing, cooking, playing bridge and pinochle, reading, word puzzles, politics and socializing. Her favorite expressed thought was "To GOD Be the Glory".

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings Buena E. Peace, Jessie L. Edwards, Elizabeth E. Thomas, Thomas J. Edwards, Jr. and Nathaniel Edwards.

She is survived by nephews and nieces, Lloyd T. (Gabrielle) Peace, Sr. of Tokyo, Japan/Fort Washington, MD, Janet P. (Harden) Wheeler of Winston-Salem, NC, Mark A. Thomas, Jr. of Bristow, VA, Allen (Sharon) Thomas, Geralene (James) Freeman of Nokesville, VA; great nephews and great nieces, Lloyd T. (Terumi) Peace, Jr. of Tokyo Japan, Renee P. (Anthony) Carr of Up-per Marlboro, MD, Cheryl E. Lindsay of Winston-Salem, NC and James T. Freeman, Jr. of Nokesville, VA.; and several other relatives and many friends.

Public viewing will be held from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM, Friday, February 23, 2024 at Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. Funeral service 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 24, 2024 at First Baptist Church, 700 N. Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101. The family will greet friends thirty-minutes prior to service. Interment in New Evergreen Cemetery.

For a copy of the funeral program, click here