Jessica Regina Edwards

God sent His angels to escort Jessica Regina Edwards to eternal peace on July 22, 2025, where love and joy reign forever. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on July 24, 1951, to the late Thelma Spence Edwards and Albert T. Edwards, Sr., Jessica’s life was a quiet masterpiece—marked by grace, diligence, and a heart that loved without condition. Jessica was known for her soft, loving voice—often accompanied by a gentle chuckle—her steadfast devotion to family, and a kindness that could be felt the moment she smiled. Warm, thoughtful, and unfailingly considerate, she had a way of making others feel seen and cherished. Her tender, soft-spoken presence was her signature and her strength. Jessica’s early years were in Portsmouth before moving with her family to Chesapeake, Virginia, and later making her home for many years in Bowie, Maryland. From the age of ten through high school graduation, she was an active member of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, nurturing leadership and service from a young age. A gifted scholar, Jessica graduated from Crestwood High School, where she was presented as a Debutante in 1969. That summer, she began her postsecondary journey in the pre-college program at Hampton University. She was thrilled to be accepted to Howard University, embracing the fullness of the HBCU experience and sisterhood. At Howard, she earned a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology (1969–1973) and was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Chapter in 1971—a legacy of service she shared with her mother, who was a member of the Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter during its initial formative years. Jessica later pursued graduate-level studies in Information Systems Management/Information Technology at the University of Maryland. Guided by curiosity and discipline, Jessica began her career as a laboratory technician at the National Institutes of Health. In 1977, she pivoted into computer science, earning a certificate in programming and coding. She served as a computer programmer at the Naval Medical Center. She continued to build a distinguished career in information technology, including roles with NCI, Inc., Hewlett-Packard/EDS, and ultimately as an IT Specialist with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Across every role, she was known for reliability, generosity with her time, and a calm, thoughtful approach to solving problems. While at Howard University, Jessica tutored children in the District of Columbia Public Schools, finding lasting joy in helping young people learn. That commitment to giving back—humble, steady, and sincere—remained a hallmark of her life. Education and lifelong learning were woven into Jessica’s family story: her mother was a career educator, and her father, the late Albert T. Edwards, Sr., served as principal of I.C. Norcom High School from 1966 to 1980. Jessica found pure happiness on the open water. She loved sailing the Caribbean with her cousins, Lawanda Spence Watkins and the late Dianne Spence Dyson, delighting in Royal Caribbean and Capital Jazz cruises to Nassau, Puerto Rico, Freeport, and Princess Cays. She looked forward each year to jazz festivals, Howard Homecomings, and time with her Delta line sisters. A gracious hostess, she was famed for her unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebrations. Jessica was preceded in death by her cherished parents and by her loving older brother, Albert T. “Butch” Edwards, Jr. She is lovingly remembered by her aunt, Pauline Spence Epps of Hampton, VA; her sister-cousin, Terry Jackson of Newport News, VA (with her husband, Albert); her childhood and dearest friend of sixty years, Carolyn Davis Kelly of Chesapeake, VA; a host of cousins and friends; and her faithful four-legged companion, Tank. Together, we give thanks to God for the life and legacy of our beloved Jessica—a gentle soul whose kindness, intellect, and quiet strength blessed every path she walked. May her memory continue to be a soft light, guiding us with love.

Jessica Regina Edwards

July 24, 1951 - July 22, 2025