Edna E. Twitty

Edna Earl Twitty, age eighty-three (83) was born June 1, 1933 to the late Mr. Alvia E. Walton and Mrs. Leander Davis in Bryan Texas, one of eight children.  She departed this life at home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, January 14, 2017.  She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers James Arthur Booker, Alvia E. Walton, Jr., and Clinton Hall Walton; sister Bobbie Ruth; daughter Linda Kay Hopkins-Twitty, son John Jeff Twitty I, and granddaughter Shavon Earl Twitty.  
Sister Edna Twitty accepted Christ at an early age and was a baptized by the late Rev Gray of the New Liberty Baptist church.  She received her early school education at George Washington Carver Elementary, E. A. Kemp High School in Bryan Texas and after moving to Albuquerque in 1953, she completed her education and received her High School Diploma from Albuquerque High.  Following this, she completed courses at TVI which is now CNM. After 35 years of nursing she retired from the University New Mexico Hospital in July, 1995.  In September 9, 1983, she and her husband opened the Twitty’s Barbeque restaurant on 311 Isleta Blvd, where they served the best ribs, collard greens and cornbread and Mom’s famous peach cobbler!!
On the 23rd of May, 1953, she married her sweetheart of 62 years, Rev. Dr. Alonzo Twitty, Sr. and to this union they were blessed to raise eleven children. Shortly after the birth of their third child, they moved to Albuquerque.   In 1994, she and her husband became foster parents.  During this time, they cared for many children’s and babies that had no place to go.  Through this program, they adopted two children, Bryan and Sheniqua.  They were very involved with the Character Counts program at Kit Carson Elementary School near their home for many years.
She loved to sing she and her older brother and sister started singing songs in their home and then in churches.  They once ran out of songs and the people kept clapping for them to come back and sing and because they didn’t know what else to do after singing all the church songs they knew, Sis. Twitty being their leader started singing songs like, “I Don’t Want Your Green Dollar Back, “and “You Are My Sunshine”.  The Minister said that’s alright baby sing, because if it wasn’t for the sun shine what would it be like.  She and her husband formed a singing group called the Spiritual Harmonizers with Rev. Nixon McDonald and his wife and they song together for five year. Together they had some great experiences singing all over New Mexico.  1968, after the McDonalds move to California, Edna, her husband and children formed a group called the Twitty Family.  They were often referred to as the Tweedy Birds.  Together they song and traveled all over the state of New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Virginia.  During their singing tour, she and her family recorded two records, which include My Life Is in God’s Hand, Old Ship of Zion, Somewhere Around God’s Throne, and Any How My Lord.  Their theme song that they carried with them for many years was “I know my life is in God’s hand”, of which Rev. Twitty was able to place his life stories in the book that he Authored called Free Grace, “My Life in God’s Hand in 2009.  Singing Gospel music often comforts and lifts up heavy burdens and when Sis. Twitty sings she put her heart and soul into it and just lets God use her.  Her voice was very touching and comforting to the soul. Wow what a voice.  Our father often said that when God made Edna Earl Twitty, he broke the mold.  There will never be another.  
She was not only a wonderful mother but she was a daughter, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, friend, cook, baker, farmer, and our First Lady, emeritus.  In 1970 she stood by her husband side when he organized the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he pastored faithfully for 44 years.   For many years, she served as Mission President, Mission teacher, Choir President/Director, and Youth Director.  She was the Matriarch of the Twitty family for 83 years and was the First Lady of the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church for over 44 years.  She had the honor and privilege of naming the church.  Before becoming the First Lady for the Pilgrim Rest, she was an Usher and Choir member at the Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. James A. Hopkins.
Sis Twitty became the President and teacher of the PRMBC Senior Mission until 2012.  She taught the Mission lesson on Monday nights at the church and often times in the member’s home.  She has also spoken on several occasions during Mission Programs throughout the city and at times she was the speaker for Mission programs.  She gave her time to teach and train others to carry on.  She encouraged young mothers to love and to take care of their husbands and children.  She served as the Senior Choir director and president for many years and many times has taken the time out to teach and work with those that have often said they couldn’t sing to sing.  For many years, she served as the Youth Director and often worked in the church wherever she was needed including bake sales, and carwashes.  For many years, she baked cakes and cookies for every member’s birthday and often took special orders from friends and families throughout the city.  Her works were endless and her gifts were priceless as Proverbs 31:10 reads, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price was far above rubies.”   We cannot count how many people’s lives that she touched and helped over the years, but we must say “a job well done.”  She had been running for Jesus for a long time.  Even during hard times and times of discouragement as a Christian she continued to endure. During the times of her teachings, she always encouraged and taught instead of criticizing or condemning.  In 2006, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but continued to be very active and involved in her church duties until two years ago, she was faithful and attended church up until January, 2017.  
She was always dedicated to assisting those in need, reaching the unchurched and enlightening believers to receive all that God has promised. She was often concerned with young souls and often stated that every child should be in somebodies church.  She was a grandmother to many children within the community and was devoted to community service, sisterly love and a “friend” to all who knew her.  She would travel anywhere she could to pick up children for Sunday school.  She trusted in the Lord and never wavered in his faith.  She will be missed by many for years to come, but her spirit will live within each and every person whose lives she touched with her selfless giving, compassion and strong faith and spirit. She fought a good fight, she finished the course and she kept the faith and she has now received her crown, but most of all she stepped on board of that “Old Ship O Zion” and has joined her husband in that land where she will never, never, never grow old.  The family would like to thank the nurses and hospice doctors from Del-A

  Visitation will be held Thursday January 19, 2017 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Strong Thorne Funeral Home, 1100 Coal Ave SE.  Funeral service will be held Friday January 20, 2017, 11:00 am. at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 608 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE   To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
1100 Coal Ave SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-842-8800