It is with great sadness that Marmie’s daughter, Julia, will write this last blog post.
Marmie Edwards passed away on March 7th, 2024, following complications after a fall on March 3rd. When she fell, she was listening to the audiobook, “The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues” by Edwards Kelsey Moore, and engaging in one of her favorite daily rituals of walking the mile-long trail behind her condo.
Mom, I’ll do my best to do you justice here, but I assume I’ll be forgiven for any errors and lack of writing chops by all.
How fitting that your last blog post was about your mother, and now I will be writing about you. As I read it last week, through tears, so impressed by your inspirational writing, your mother, and you, I continue to be struck by your selfless nature. You are, and will always be, one of the most giving and caring people I will know. And I know others reading this will agree. At 26 years old, you put your life on hold and nursed your mother back to health after her stroke. You helped care for your youngest brother and encouraged your middle brother to continue his college studies, while you helped establish the new normal. You have shared how hard those 6 months were, but I know they contributed to your caring nature.
From there, life was not always easy, but you are a fighter and did so much with what you had. From being a staffer in the house to a future Vice President, your devotion to highway rail safety for 20 years, going back to get your Masters in Crisis Management at 58, and eventually making the choice to move across the country from D.C. to Austin, to be near your grandchildren and restart your life at 64. In Austin, you found many mentoring groups you assisted, volunteered at many local triathlons and races, and spent countless hours and years volunteering at the LBJ Library as a docent. You worked many polls as a poll worker or election judge, walked door to door for the League of Women’s voters, and met dear friends through your love of the democratic process. You started this blog in 2017 as a way to share your deep love of history with others and to help bridge the present with the past.
Above all, your love for others was shared, especially with Family. You were the invisible string that stretched out and brought them together. The string even continued through the countless baby blankets you made – from many neighbors, to a nurse who helped you once, you wanted everyone to know each baby was special and worthy of your time. You never hesitated to share how proud you were of me or your grandchildren. As you were a single mother most of my life, I can understand why you were so proud. Thank you for your countless sacrifices you made to help me and others become who we could become.
As a grandmother, you taught us so much about our children and saw their gifts in a way that parents cannot. Your encouragement to Corbin, our eldest, and his writing will be influential for the rest of his life. I spent the last hours of your life reading his latest 15 chapter book as I knew that you didn’t want to go without reading it. He will greatly miss discussing plot lines with you and his future stories. They will miss your devotion to finding just the right book for each grandchild, especially a science or comic book for Kellen to explore his engineering and comedic chops. Your willingness to create any type of craft with Talia, your only granddaughter, always made me laugh. Talia will miss your many trips to the bookstore. The countless pictures I found on your phone of your “grand dog” Rowdy, made me smile.
The hole in our hearts is deep, but we know you would have wanted us to celebrate who you are and cherish the memories we hold dear. We will forever remember you for the amazing writer, volunteer, historian, friend and grandmother that you are.
After her fall, Marmie never regained consciousness, but she took a turn on Wednesday after the Super Tuesday results – a coincidence, I think not. Because of this, we are asking any donations be given to the Austin chapter of the League of Women Voters. Where hopefully, they can help deliver the future my mom would have hoped for.
Please go to lwvaustin.org, under donation, then general fund, and state the contribution is in memory of Marmie Edwards. If you wish to mail a donation: LWV Austin Area, 3908 Avenue B, Austin, TX 78751.
In closing, I apologize for all the things and people I am forgetting, but it feels appropriate to close with the quote from her first blog post on March 10, 2017: “So as Robert Krulwich of NPR says, it’s not the cards we get handed in life, it’s how we play the hand”.
Please feel free to share a favorite memory you shared with Marmie below in the comments.
Past Becomes Present.Blog 
Julia, what a beautiful tribute to your mother. I was in a writing group with her and encouraged her to turn her impressive blog posts into a book. This is quite a shock. Much love to you and your family.
Julia Daily
This must have been so hard to write, Julia. I was also in her writing group during much of Covid; and got together with her a few times when it was safe. She was so happy that you and your family moved back to Austin from your time in England. She was a wonderful person. My condolences to you and your family.
Joni Foster
I’m the volunteer coordinator at the LBJ Presidential Library and have known Marmie for almost 10 years. She was a devoted volunteer, but I also appreciated how much she cared about my personal life and the well being of my daughter. My daughter Morgan is a Girl Scout and Marmie always purchased cookies from her, as well as came to our troop’s annual garage sale to help support our troop. She sent me the loveliest notes about my daughter and I appreciated each and every one. It’s just so hard to believe she’s gone. Our thoughts will be with you and your family during this very difficult time
Thank you Julia for writing this blog about Marmie. I was stunned and saddened to read the news. Marmie and I met through the PRSA National Capital Chapter and hated seeing her leave the DC area years ago. She was living a life well-lived and inspired all of us with her blogs, which I looked forward to reading. I will miss her. My deepest condolences to you and all the family.
Julia – what a heartfelt blog about your beautiful Mother and every word rang true about her charter. I met Marmie through Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) and through Intelligence Transportation Systems of Virginia where Marmie volunteered and provided her writing expertise. When she left DC we remained connected through Facebook. You were in HS when we worked closely together and she always spoke with such love and devotion about you. What a great friend. I’m so saddened at the loss. Thanks for providing the news in the most gentle way. My condolences for you loss.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your mom. I never knew her but if she played a role in you becoming the incredible person you are she must have been a great woman. Sending hugs ❤️
I am so sorry to hear this tragic news.
Marmie and I had just reconnected by Facebook. She was a wonderful neighbor of mine in Alexandria, Virginia for many years. She helped us so much on the condo association.
She epitomized the perfect neighbor – always willing to lend a hand and often baked goodies for our whole building of sixteen families. Such a lovely lady. 💕 My deepest condolences to her family. 🙏🏻💔🙏🏻
Met Marmie in our railroad days in DC. One of my favorite people. We were there for each other through many career ups and downs. She made the right choice to be near you in what proved to be her final years. May she rest in peace.
Paula Newbaker
Julia, I see the goodness of your mom in your tribute to her. She and I became friends on our Thursday afternoon shift at the LBJ. I always looked forward to being with her. We talked about important things. I admired her kindness and compassion and her willingness to share. I feel lucky that our paths crossed. I will miss her. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Mimi Nichols
Marnie and I were classmates in the Strategic Public Relations masters program at VCU. She was such a sweetheart and always encouraged me in my PR career after graduation. It is heartbreaking to read of her passing. I know she felt loved and showed love to all of our VCU classmates and we all miss her dearly.
Julia, such a moving tribute to your mother. On behalf of the League of Women Voters Austin Area, we appreciated Marmie’s volunteer time on behalf of Empowering Voters-Defending Democracy. We will certainly put donations sent to LWV in her honor to work in educating voters with the Voters Guide, candidate forums, and getting out the vote in 2024.
Marmie was a wonderful person and I am so glad to have known her! Thank you for this lovely tribute. She did, in fact, have a wonderful influence on many people. Sending love to everyone who knew her.
was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Marmie. Marmie has such a sweet soul. I still remember she kindly invited me to stay with her in Alexandria so that I can easily tour around DC when both of us were in the Stra PR program. We’d always been in touch since our VCU days, even when both of us moved around the world: Alexandria, Austin, London, Shanghai, Lund, Kyoto, Stockholm…I had always wished that we could catch up again in person, either in Texas or somewhere in Europe…I enjoyed all the fun talks we had, especially when she talked about all the sweet potato recipes she’d been collecting…Recent years, she mentioned a lot about you, Julia, and your kids. I know how happy she had been after moving to Austin and staying close to you and the grandkids. My sincere condolences to you and your family. Marmie will always be remembered❤️.
I’m a volunteer at the LBJ Library. Marmie is one of the first volunteers I met. Marmie suggested we get together for lunch and a walk. She came to Mueller insisting it was OK for her to travel across town rather than meet somewhere in the middle. We shared a lovely afternoon of stories from our adult life. Marmie was vibrant, brilliant, thoughtful, and nice to everyone. I will miss her and remember her. May her memory be a blessing.
Waking up this morning to this news is not how I like to start my day. Sue and I met and befriended Marmie in 1979. It is amazing how fast 45 years pass. I will leave it to my wife to share her memories of Marmie. Sue and Marmie were pregnant at the same time. Marmie timed the birth of Julia to coincide with the Reagan assassination attempt on March 30, 1981. Nothing like trying to get in and out of a hospital swarming with Secret Service agents and officers. Despite being post-partum, Marmie trudge up flights of stairs to be with the new love of her life, Julia.
I won’t use the tired expression “it seems like a lifetime ago” because it was a lifetime ago when Marmie was a new Congressional staffer to a Senator by the name of Dan Quayle. Perhaps you’ve heard of him. Yes, I never missed a chance to remind Marmie of that skeleton in her closet. And she always handled my barbs with her great sense of humor.
I so admire Marmie for her incredible strength in confronting depression in the wake of her mother’s death. She could have chosen some very dark paths, but instead opted to embrace life with all of her soul. I know her sudden passing leaves a gaping hole in the heart of Julia and her family. But I thank God that Marmie lived the kind of life that sparks memories of joy and happiness when you hear her name or see her picture.
Marmie and i were together in Strat PR class in VCU. I feel so blessed to have met her. She was kind and so welcoming and we often talked about each other’s families. We were in touch even after i moved back to India and she moved to Austin and would occasionally share our lives updates with each other. I was always telling her to come with her family and visit us here in India. I really wanted her to meet my children. She talked so much about her grand children and you Julia and she was so proud of you all. She will be terribly missed by anyone who had met her even once. My condolences to you and your family. Marmie will be missed and remembered dearly ❤
A beautiful tribute, Julia, to your inspiring mom. She lived with passion and compassion. Of all her accomplishments, however, I’m sure she is most proud of her children. May she rest in peace.
I am so sorry to hear this. Like everyone, I was shocked and deeply saddened. I volunteer at the LBJ Library & had the honor of working with Marmie on several occasions over the years. She was, kind, beyond accomplished and hugely inspiring to talk with. This loving tribute to your amazing mother has brought us all to tears. I send my most heartfelt condolences.
We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of Marmie. We got to know her during the pandemic when she was staying in your house. We would meet on nice days in our backyard for meals and snacks (like her muffins!) and chat about her research and writing, her work to register voters and of course about how much we all missed our kids and grandkids.
We wish we could have made it back to Austin since we moved but we haven’t been able to make that work yet. She will be sorely missed and we send our thoughts and condolences during this difficult time. We will miss the remembrance celebration and will be thinking of you all that day.
Regards,
Anne and Dana Kolflat and family
Julia, my deepest condolences to your family and you. I knew Marnie professionally as we were both involved in PRSA in the DC area. She was an incredibly giving, professional, kind person. Your journal entry is a lasting blessing as it allows for continued reflection of the very personal, positive impact she made in so many lives.
Julia, what a beautiful tribute to your Mom. I have not seen Marmie for 50+ years since our days as Sorority Sisters at Indiana, but what always stays with you as a member of a sorority are the special women you remember as genuine and caring and fun. This was your Mom. I wish I would have been able to keep up with her throughout life, but so often when we leave our college days behind, we also leave our youthful friends. She had an amazing life. I have remained active in alumnae involvement with Kappa Delta and I can tell you she went far beyond our expectations as members, “ let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest”. Rest in peace dear sister. We will meet again in the Chapter Eternal.
Debbie Browne Conway
I am heartbroken for Julia, her family and all of us who loved Marmie. We met walking in the neighborhood, when she was living in Julia’s house, while they were living in London. We immediately started having wonderful long conversations about our lives and the state of the world. Marmie knew so much about American history and politics, based on her extensive reading and writing, and she was very wise based on her lived experience. Our last conversation was about three hours long at La Madeleine, a favorite place because they don’t care how long you stay. Knowing that we will no longer have these conversations leaves a big hole in my heart. Susan Graham
hello, I’m Lesia from Ukraine, before the war I worked as a pediatrician doctor , I was in the occupation, I came to America in April 2022 through the border with Mexico, because my daughter lives in Austin. I started learning English at the age of 55. I met Marmi in the women’s conversation club, she herself chose me for further communication, for which I am very grateful to her! we met in Domain, where I live, walked with dogs, Marmi always came smiling, caring, we had a good time, despite the language barrier. Marmi was proud of her grandchildren, and I was proud of her energy and optimism! I want to re-read Marmi’s works and I thank fate that I was acquainted with this wonderful woman! sorry for writing through a translator.