Ms. Tonya Jeanine Edwards

Tonya Jeanine Edwards, 42, entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and into His loving embrace on Sunday, May 13, 2018. She was born on May 7, 1976, the daughter of Marion S. Edwards and Linda J. (Martin) Edwards. Spending most of her childhood in Midland, Michigan, Tonya attended Midland Christian School and graduated from Midland High School. Consistent with her enthusiasm for marine life, she attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she furthered her Christian educational experience and received her Bachelor’s in Marine Biology. She was known for her soft spirit, quiet acts of kindness, and contagiously calm disposition. For over 20 years, she held various roles at Target in Saginaw and developed long-term friendships with her coworkers. Tonya was a passionate book reader. She was a “Treky” at heart and enjoyed watching Dancing with the Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, and her beloved Michigan Wolverines. Her most cherished moments in life included time spent with her niece and nephews from Des Moines, Iowa. She relished in every opportunity to play hide-and-seek and balloon volleyball with them, and they adored their “Aunt Tonya.” Tonya was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, James D. and Carrie B. (Moore) Martin, and her paternal grandparents, Howard and Jean (Osborn) Knox. She is survived by and her life is celebrated by her mother, Linda J. (Martin) Edwards; father, Marion (Tina) Edwards; his children, Robert Edwards, Brandie Pahl, Tamika McArthur, and Sydnee Edwards; brother, Ron J. (Katrina) Edwards; niece, Natalie S. Edwards; nephews, Landon J. Edwards and Isaiah D. Edwards; uncles, Ralph J. Martin, Howard Knox, Jr., and Gregory Edwards; aunt, Jeanine (Martin) Sheppard; great-aunts, Lela Price, Joann Williams, Bernice Dorsey, Mattie Calhoun, and Judith Moore; great-uncle, Joseph L. Moore; cousins, Madeline (Davis) Micou, Danielle (Davis) Yarmoluk, Jacqueline Davis, Nicole Davis, Darrell Martin, Tess Martin, and Odaliah Rance; along with many other extended relatives, friends, and co-workers. The family extends its heartfelt expression of gratitude for the cards, emails, visits, prayers, and words of comfort, love, and encouragement during this time of bereavement. For those desiring to make a philanthropic contribution in Tonya’s memory, the family asks that you please consider her memorial established at Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw in support of books and reading programs at 505 Janes Avenue Saginaw, Michigan 48607. Family Hour begins at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48607 with memorial service commencing at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Russell Sheppard will officiate.

Ms. Tonya Jeanine Edwards

May 7, 1976 - May 13, 2018