Edwina Ellen Hooker

Edwina Ellen Hooker entered into eternal peace on April 24th, 2021 at the age of 66. Edwina was born to Edward Allen Hooker and Dorothy Hollingsworth Hooker on December 14, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. She was the oldest of their three daughters. She was educated in the Cambria Heights School District of Queens, New York and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1973.

Edwina grew up attending the Redeemer Lutheran Church with her family in St. Albans, New York. It was in the Lutheran church where she first established her church confirmation on July 2, 1967 at the age of 12. In 1978, she relocated to North Carolina after graduating from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD. At UMES Edwina majored in Sociology and received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work in 1977. She began working in Goldsboro, NC as a probation officer and later served as a social worker in both Wilson and Mecklenburg counties for over 15 years.

Edwina moved to Charlotte, NC in the early 1980s where she purchased a home and resided for the last 35 years. She really loved living in Charlotte and it reminded her of growing up in the big city of New York. Edwina thrived in the "Queen City" where she gained lifelong friends and made lasting memories. She especially enjoyed attending Charlotte Hornets games, Charlotte Panthers games and going out on the town with her friends. In Charlotte, Edwina also became a member of Nations Ford Baptist Church in 1991, where she served actively for many years and completed the church's Lay Pastors Training Institute.

Edwina had a heart for counseling and the welfare of others. This passion led her to endeavor not only in social work, but also group home support and rehabilitation service work. She served the North Carolina Department of Social Services in many capacities, such as home-aide and mental health social work, as well as a social worker for the blind and visually impaired. After many years of service as a social worker, Edwina began working for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. At CMS, she used her background in social work and excellent communication skills to work with troubled teens as a Transitional Support Manager in the Alternative Education and Safe Schools programs. Edwina served in this position until her retirement in 2017.

Edwina was elegant, loved all things beautiful and was a true "fashionista." Her love of fashion and beauty led her to pursue a part-time modeling career, as well as becoming a representative for Mary Kay. Edwina delighted in working as a Mary Kay consultant for many years and enjoyed all of the traveling, skin care demonstrations and make-up presentations that it involved. She would often use her sisters as guinea pigs for new products and practice make-up demos on them. In addition to consulting for Mary Kay, Edwina also expressed her unique talents through her modeling work in the Charlotte-area. With her beautiful smile and vivacious personality she acquired modeling jobs for such companies as Roses and Lane Bryant and made several appearances in local area fashion shows. There were many occasions when she would send her family copies of her work in newspapers, advertisements and local store fliers. Modeling was truly a pleasurable experience in her life.

Edwina, affectionately known as "Auntie Weenie," honestly loved and adored all of her nieces and nephews. Having no children of her own, she genuinely treated them as if they were her own children. "Auntie Weenie" was at every baby shower, baby dedication, kindergarten graduation, Sweet 16 party, Pee Wee football game and Chuck E. Cheese birthday party that she could make it to! "I'll be there," she would say, "Just let me know what time and where, and I'll be there." Spending time with her nieces and nephews would always brighten her days and fill her heart with joy.

Edwina leaves to cherish fond memories, her mother, Dorothy Lee Hollingsworth Hooker; two sisters, Doris Hooker Hunte and Madelyn Hooker Butler (Philip); one half-sister,  Sarah Kaye Watson (Jerry); three cherished nieces, Jasmine Lee Smith (Brandon), Phylicia Dorthea Butler and Heather Kaye Watson; four awesome nephews, Terrence Lemar Watson, Edward Allen Hunte, Matthew Edward Butler and Theodore Emmanuel Butler, to whom she took the role of Godmother; three great-nieces, one  great-nephew, a very special cousin, Mildred "Millie" Brown, and a host of other loving cousins.

Edwina also treasured her friends dearly and leaves behind three lifetime friends who became a part of her family: Veronica Walters of New York, Doris Braswell of Wilson, NC, and her best friend, Dianne Johnson (David) of Charlotte, NC. Edwina was preceded in death by her beloved father, Edward Allen Hooker, whom she adored.