Mother Helen Ruth Edwards' Obituary
Helen Ruth Butts Edwards, affectionately known to those who loved her as “Fat,” was born on October 26, 1938, in Jeanerette, Louisiana, to the late Victor Butts, Sr. and Bernice Nathan. She was raised in Jeanerette, the small Louisiana town that would forever hold her heart, no matter how far life’s seasons carried her from its sugarcane fields.
Helen received her early education at Boley High School in Jeanerette, Louisiana, and went on to further her studies at South Louisiana Community College. A woman of industry and dedication, she devoted two decades of faithful service to Jeanerette Mills, from which she proudly retired.
Helen was a woman whose hands were always busy and whose heart was always full. She was a devoted member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Jeanerette, Louisiana, where the choir’s songs were as much a part of her as her own heartbeat. Singing was her joy, whether in the church pews, at the choir stand, or in the warmth of her own kitchen. And what a kitchen it was. Helen was known far and wide for baking Tea Cakes and her famous Sweet Potato Bread, a labor of love that found its way into the memories of everyone blessed enough to taste it. A treasured recipe she carried with her to glory. Her baking was a language she spoke fluently, one that said, "I love you" without a single word.
She was the devoted wife of the late Joseph Edwards, and together they built a family rooted in faith, love, and resilience. In 2016, Helen made a decision that spoke volumes about the woman she was. She left the home and community she had known her entire life to move to Texas, not for herself, but for her daughter, who had suffered a stroke and needed her mother’s care. Helen never hesitated. Though her heart never fully left the country roads and quiet life of Jeanerette, she planted herself where she was needed most and remained there until God called her home.
In Texas, she continued her walk of faith, first as a beloved member of Koinonia Christian Church in Arlington, TX, where she worshipped for nine years, and then, in her final year, as a member of The Garden Life Church in Mansfield, TX. She had raised children who loved the Lord, and she rejoiced in worshipping alongside them. Helen’s faith was not a Sunday-only affair; it was the foundation upon which she built every single day.
On April 21, 2026, Helen suffered a major stroke. She fought with the quiet strength that had defined her entire life, but in the end, Heaven called her home. She transitioned from post-stroke complications at the age of 87, a mighty woman of God who had faithfully finished her race.
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY
Her beloved husband, Joseph Edwards; her sons, Salaris Edwards and Terren Edwards; her parents, Victor Butts, Sr. and Bernice Nathan Johnson; and her siblings, Alfred Butts, Henry Lee Butts, Joseph Charles Butts, Larry Butts, Linda Butts, Loretta Butts, Mary Louise Davison, Rosa Belle Polidore, and Victor Butts, Jr.
SHE LEAVES TO CHERISH HER MEMORY
Her son, Arnold (Sylvia) Edwards of Houston, TX; her daughters, Conswella Edwards of Mansfield, TX; Tonia Edwards of Mansfield, TX; and Yolanda (Joseph) Nicholas of Arlington, TX; her grandchildren, Amburee Edwards, Jaci Edwards, Jaidon (Tawny) Edwards, Joshua Edwards, Jordan Nicholas, Joseph Nicholas, Jr., Terren Nicholas, and Zion Nicholas; her great-grandchildren, Amiri Edwards, Sa’Vani Edwards, and Sa’Nyla Edwards; one sister, Diana Brown; a favorite cousin, Francis Boyd; her favorite phone group; and a host of cousins, extended family, and dear friends whose lives she touched in more ways than can be numbered.
What’s your fondest memory of Helen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helen?
Share a story where Helen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helen you’ll never forget.
How did Helen make you smile?
