July 28, 2025, 74, Goldsboro —
Ms. Bonnie Edwards Bonnie Sharon Jarrett Edwards passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on July 28, 2025 in Greenville, NC after a long, hard-fault battle with Alzheimer’s, at the age of 74. Psalm 116:15 says “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.”
Bonnie was born on April 22, 1951 to Rev. Lester and “Deanie” Jarrett in Lexington, NC.
Bonnie grew up in Ahoskie, NC and graduated from Ahoskie High School in 1969. Right after high school, she married Benjamin “Royce” Gaskins, Jr. who was in the US Coast Guard. When their son Dion was just 9 months old and while live in Corpus Christi, Texas, Royce was killed in a plane accident during a recovery mission. She and Dion moved back to NC where she later met and married Paul Edwards. They settled in Washington, NC where their son Wesley Paul Edwards was born. With her dad as his mentor, Paul became a minister and then served as Associate Pastor under him in Sanford. A few years later, at the young age of 5, their beloved son Wesley passed away due to health complication since birth. They then pastored IPHC churches in Aberdeen, Hobucken, Rocky Mount, St. Pauls, Mount Olive, and Millennium. Paul served as Associate Pastor at Carpenters Shop Church in Ahoskie, including a one year assignment as a Lead Pastor in Belhaven.
Bonnie was a devoted pastor’s wife, mom, Nana, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and worship leader. She had a beautiful voice that she shared at all the churches they pastored. After Paul passed away in 2019, she moved in with Dion and Kristy in Greenville in June 2020 and remain there until her passing. She loved to laugh, drink, coffee, prepare wonderful meals in the kitchen, and play games with her grandchildren.
Bonnie was preceded in death for her parents Rev. Lester Calvin Jarrett and Elma Dean “Deanie” Mickens Jarrett; husbands Benjamin, Roy, Gaskins, Junior and Reven, Paul, Edwards; son, Wesley Paul, Edwards; And brothers Lester Calvin Elsie Jared, Junior. And Gerald Ray, as well as two brothers in law, three sisters in law, and a niece.
Bonnie‘s legacy continues through her family: son and daughter-in-love, Dion and Kristy Gaskins of Greenville, NC. She was Nana to grandchildren: Randa Gaskins, Micah Harris and husband Britt, Jaimyn, Smothers and husband, Josh, and Jarrett Gaskins and wife Alayna; great-grandchildren: Theo Gaskins, Haven Harris, Eden Smothers, (and one more on the way!). She is also survived by her sister Dawn Hill (Keith), Sisters-in-law: Yvonne Knox (Gordon), Sue Jarrett, Paula Edwards, and Shirley Edwards; brother-in-law Rev. Ben Edwards (Iris) and 12 nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Gentiva Hospice for their help and support the past seven months.
A memorial service celebrating Bonnie’s life will be Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 11 am at Mercy Church, 127 NC 42, Ahoskie, NC 27910. There will be a time of visitation immediately following the service.
