Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

was playing basketball on the girl’s team. There was no money for college, so Rosalind did what so many do in that situation–she moved to Memphis and joined her sister Marilyn in working at an office at Sears. Eventually, Rosalind’s sister married and moved out of the apartment. Fortunately, Rosalind had made friends with June Edwards, another office worker, and she invited Rosalind to move in with her. Before long, June’s single brother, Billy Edwards, came by for a visit and was introduced to Rosalind. The chemistry was there and dating began. Billy was in the ROTC and ready to graduate from Memphis State University (now, University of Memphis). When Billy’s vocational plans required him to move to St. Louis to attend meteorology school, he proposed and Rosalind accepted. They were married in Middletown Church of Christ in December 1960. The honeymoon was short as Billy had to return to school the next day! While living in St. Louis, Billy and Rosalind lived in a small apartment over a drug store, and Rosalind helped Billy study. “I learned the name of every cloud,” laughs Rosalind. But life was good! When Billy graduated as a meteorologist, the ROTC commitment sent them to Columbus, Mississippi. There, Billy advised all planes flying in and out of the air base. While living in Columbus, their first daughter, Lisa, was born. Because it was the weekend, the flight surgeon was the only available doctor to attend the delivery. After two years there, the Edwards moved back toMemphis to be close to family. Billy studied accounting and eventually returned to work at Sears, Baptist Memorial Hospital and continued in the Air National Guard. Two more children, Amy and David, were added to the family. After the children were all in school, Rosalind enrolled in business school and studied accounting. After graduation, she worked almost exclusively with two CPAs, although she had some brief employment with Harding Academy Schools and another office–finally retiring when she was 70 years old. Rosalind and Billy were able to travel extensively, visiting all states except Hawaii. One special event was a cruise with the family to Mexico. In 2004, Rosalind and Billy made plans to eventually move to Kirby Pines. In 2017, Billy suddenly passed away with acute leukemia. After 18 months of living alone, Rosalind moved to Kirby Pines. Her older sister, Marilyn, moved in about amonth later. Unfortunately, Marilyn suddenly passed away soon after. Rosalind was devastated! Rosalind said the community of caring and loving people at Kirby helped her through some difficult times. In addition to the puzzle table, Rosalind regularly attends services at Germantown Church of Christ and is involved with the Lighthouse Ministry there. She also makes occasional trips to Colorado to visit family and her five year old grandson. She plays Mah Jongg, card games and Bingo. “I’m very happy being at Kirby Pines,” adds Rosalind. “This is my home.” Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines The Pinecone | December 2025 • 7 • The person you will often see at the famous puzzle table at Kirby Pines is Rosalind Edwards. Since moving to Kirby Pines seven years ago, she has become a prominent worker and the decision maker for which 1000- piece puzzle will be worked. She has plenty of choices as the “puzzle closet” has many shelves from which to choose. Now that it is the Christmas season, expect to see ones selected from the two shelves designated for Christmas puzzles only. Working at the puzzle table provides a great social outlet as various residents and employees are attracted to the table to find that special piece that fits! Authorities on brain health have recognized the benefits of puzzle working as effective in preventing cognitive decline as several areas of the brain are used in putting a puzzle together. Not only is the puzzle table a social outlet, but it is fun and it reduces stress. Although Rosalind is sometimes referred to as the “the puzzle queen,” she, like many of us, had a humble beginning. Rosalind Rachel Whaley was born in 1940 in Middletown, Tennessee, a town not far from the Mississippi border. She had two older siblings and one younger. Rosalind was not welcomed by her older brother as he was heard to say, “I’m not looking at her until she is 10 days old!” When Rosalind was three years old, WW II had begun, and her father got a job at the Milan Arsenal in Milan, Tennessee. When the war ended, the family moved back to a farm in Middletown. Living on the farm was fun, but it was hard work. Rosalind grew up helping with chores, including chopping cotton and gathering corn. “I learned to drive a tractor,” according to Rosalind, “but I never learned to milk a cow!” Christmas was an especially happy time growing up in a big family. Rosalind recalls her childhood Christmases: “Mother would start early ordering our one gift from Sears & Roebuck catalogue, and then she would hide them somewhere in the house until Christmas morning. We went to the woods and picked out the prettiest Christmas tree we could find and then decorated it with homemade decorations. On Christmas morning, we couldn’t open our gifts until my father had a fire going in the fireplace. Our Christmas stockings were the stockings that my mother wore. They were filled with oranges, apples and nuts—things we didn’t normally have. Rosalind attended the schools in Middletown, graduating from high school in 1958 as salutatorian. Other than study, her primary activity THE PUZZLE LADY OF KIRBY PINES Resident Spotlight: Rosalind Edwards Rosalind at Age 6