Gail Wooten Edwards

Gail Wooten Edwards, 64, of Grifton, NC, died after a courageous fight with cancer at UNC Health Lenoir Hospital on August 10, 2024. 

Gail was born on November 29, 1959, to Roland and Virginia Wooten of Farmville, NC. She grew up in Farmville with her brother, Ron Edward Wooten, and often spent time with her cousins, Kim Pippin Nelson and Terri Pippin Brett. She graduated from Farmville Central High School in 1978 and from Pitt Community College in 1981. She started at Lenoir Memorial Hospital at the age of fifteen as a care partner and began her nursing career there in 1981. She had a passion for healthcare and nursing, but her favorite part was rocking babies in the nursery.

On April 14, 1990, Gail married the love of her life, Brian Floyd Edwards, and moved to Grifton, NC. Gail soon had her own babies to rock, and she was extremely proud of her two sons, Christopher Brian Edwards and Marshall Wooten Edwards. She began her work at Kinston Pediatrics when the boys were born but moved back to Lenoir Memorial Hospital once they got older and worked there until the week she passed. Once the boys were too big to rock, she went to every game for both sons, and was always known for the cowbell she had to cheer on her boy’s teams. 

Gail enjoyed a wide group of friends, games and puzzles, but her favorite past time was sitting on the beaches near Cape Lookout and getting her dose of Vitamin D and Vitamin “Sea.” At first, she did this with her friends, then added children and their wives, and finally, sharing the beach with her grandchildren. Her grandbabies were a special joy to her, and she loved having three more little ones to rock. 

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Roland and Virginia Wooten; her sister-in-law, Nora Wooten; her brother-in-law, Kevin Nelson; and her nephews, Robert Wooten and Adam Clements. 

She has left a huge hole in the hearts of her surviving husband, Brian Edwards; sons, Christopher (Jessica Dennis) Edwards of Ayden, and Marshall (Haley Wade) Edwards of Grifton; grandchildren, Brenna Edwards, Christopher “Beau” Edwards, and Ella Edwards; brother, Ron (Kristie) Wooten of Greenville; brother-in-law, Douglas (Beverly) Edwards of Morehead City; sister-in-law, Barbara “Barbie” Nelson of Davis, who helped take excellent care of her during her cancer diagnosis; and many nephews, nieces, coworkers, and friends who held a special place in her heart.

A celebration of her life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Grifton United Methodist Church at 437 McCrae Street, Grifton, NC 28530.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Lenoir Hospital Foundation, 100 Airport Rd., Kinston, NC 28501.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.