2025 -- H 5002

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARY ANN EDWARDS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Edwards,
McGaw, Cortvriend, Fogarty, Newberry, Tanzi, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House of Representatives has learned of the

passing of Mary Ann Edwards, who was the devoted wife of the late John "Duke" Edwards III for

56 years; and

     WHEREAS, Mary Ann Edwards was born and raised in Newport, and was a part of the

heavily Irish fifth ward for many years. Mrs. Edwards was a 1952 graduate of St. Catherine's

Academy and worked for many years as a telephone operator for New England Telephone. She

and her husband lived in various areas, including Cape Cod, Maine, upstate New York and

Maryland, before they returned to Rhode Island, and Aquidneck Island specifically, to establish

the very successful J.G. Edwards Construction Company, which they ran together for more than

40 years; and

     WHEREAS, Mary Ann Edwards was also a distinguished public servant who at all times

served her constituents and the taxpayers with abiding integrity. She was elected to the

Portsmouth Town Council in 1994, serving for 14 years, including serving as the Council

President for a couple of terms. She was a tireless advocate for her constituents and helped to

make Portsmouth a better place in which to live and do business; and

     WHEREAS, In her free time, Mrs. Edwards enjoyed needlepointing, gardening, and was

an avid reader who particularly enjoyed reading the New York Sunday Times every week. She

also was an active member of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club for more than 50 years and enjoyed

regularly cruising with her late husband John Edwards III to Maine and the Bahamas on their

sailboat Airedale; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Edwards was a devoted wife and mother who always put her loved

ones first in her life. Mary Ann Edwards leaves behind the Honorable John "Jay" Edwards IV and

his wife, Donna, James Edwards and his wife, Mary, and her seven grandchildren, John Edwards

and his wife, Brittany, Kelsey Coletta, and her husband, David, Mae Edwards, Daniel Edwards

and his wife, Marisa, Matthew Edwards and his wife, Tatiana, Molly Mitchell and her husband,

Ryan, and Colleen Moore and her husband, William. She also leaves behind her great-

granddaughters Amelia, Sloan, and Nora, as well as her brother and sister-in-law Philip and

Diane Tobin, her sister Arleen Brown, and her sisters-in-law Estelle Tobin, Lizbeth Tobin, and

Diane Harrington, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband of 56 years,

John Edwards III, Mary Ann Tobin was also predeceased by her sister, Joan Reis, brothers John

and James Tobin, brothers-in-law George Reis and Jack Brown, and nephews Christopher Brown

and Patrick Tobin, as well as her parents, John Tobin and Mary Tobin and her stepmother, Mary

(Kennedy) Tobin. Mary Ann Tobin will also be sorely missed by Toby, her Portuguese water dog

and always faithful friend.

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses condolences to the Edwards Family on the passing of Mary Ann Edwards; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable John Edwards IV, and James

Edwards.

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