Legacy Page

Joshara & Shirley Edwards

Joshara P. Edwards was born June 30 in Eunice, Louisiana. He was the only child of Arenia Edwards. Josh was a graduate of St. Nicholas Catholic School in Houston, Texas. He served in the United States Air Force for four years. He married Shirley Thompson. They were married for fifty-two years before he passed in 2015. Joshara was a faithful member of St. Anne de Beaupre for over sixty years. He served in several ministries, including the Lectors, Catholic Catechism Education teacher, and a member of the Parish council. He as also an active member of the Knights of Peter Claver (“KPC”), Inc. for over fifty years. He was elected to several local, state, and national offices in the organization. Joshara was the founder and charter member of the KPC Texas 100 Club. Joshara was dedicated in assisting his mother with the Edwards Café, Mothers on the Move, Inc., and her many volunteer ventures. Josh followed in his mother’s entrepreneurial footsteps, having many business ventures himself. He lived by the motto: “One day at a time.”

Shirley Edwards was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to Louise and Eunice Thompson. Shirley met Josh at St. Nicholas Catholic School where they were classmates. Shirley and Josh were married after he returned from his service in the Air Force. Shirley is a long-time member of St. Anne de Beaupre Catholic Church where she is actively involved in several ministries, including the Lectors, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Inc., and the Alter Society. She, too, is a member of the Knights of Peter Clear, Inc. Ladies Auxiliary. She has served in many local offices and is currently serving as the Outer Guard in Court 101. Shirley has been a long-time volunteer for various organizations. She has dedicated time to the Houston Food Bank, UNCF Walks, and worked at polling locations and phone banks, encouraging registered voters to make their voices heard. She was instrumental in assisting Arenia with her last shoe drive for Mother’s on the Move, Inc. when Arenia’s health was failing. Her volunteering on that day and continuous financial support meant a great deal to both Shirley and Arenia.

Carlos Flentroy

I am Carlos E. Flentroy,  the oldest of the grandchildren of Mrs. Arenia Edwards born November 10, 1962. I am married to my lovely wife, Marva Flentroy, and we are blessed to have three wonderful children, William, Britney, and Ricky, and six beautiful grandchildren. I have worked in the Personal Injury Law profession as a Pre-litigation Consultant for 30 years, of which I spent 23 of said years with Fred J. Rodriguez, Attorney at Law, before joining the Martin Law Firm 7 years ago. I am exceptionally proud of my Sister-in-law Treza Edwards and my brother, her husband Joseph A. Edwards for such compassion and forethought to memorialize our grandmother's legacy by establishing this wonderful non-profit in her honor. 

Joseph Edwards

My name is Joseph Edwards and I am the second eldest grandchild to Arenia Edwards and the husband of the founder, Treza Edwards who has given birth to our grandmother’s legacy. Legacy is an important part of a person’s life after leaving this earth. It reflects their life’s work and how they wanted to be remembered.

Our grandmother’s life was centered around prayer, the Rosary, and her love for Jesus, Jesus was her companion daily as she struggled to live life with health challenges. These challenges did not prevent her from living out the words of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel, 25:40, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

My wife and I presently live in Augusta, Georgia where God has planted us to continue our work and that which we feel called to do. As a retirement planner, I help improve people’s lives, educate them, and provide, “peace of mind”. I feel in some way I am continuing my grandmother’s legacy by assisting seniors. I am extremely proud of my wife for allowing our grandmother’s legacy and light to shine again, even in death. May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed rest in Peace. May we keep Arenia’s light shining.

Ericka Jackson

Ericka Marie Jackson was born in Houston, Texas and currently resides there. She is an '88 graduate of Texas A&M University, College Station, TX with a bba in Finance. She currently works as a QA/QC Officer for Harris County Pollution Control. She is married to Dexter Jackson and together they are a blended family of 6. She is also a proud grandmother of 4. 

Ericka shared a room with her grandmother, Arenia Edwards, for the formative years of her life, she is sure that the spirit of volunteering was instilled in her right in that room. Ericka enjoyed helping with the paperwork, going to help families get shoes, clothes, food stamps, and whatever errands Arenia would do to assist families in need.

Ericka has volunteered at church teaching C.C.E., a member of the Finance Council and leading the choir. She has also served as Carver Magnet High School PTSA president and other positions. She has been Junior Daughter Counselor in the Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. and has had many opportunities to give back.

Ericka is proud to have been able to follow in the footsteps of such a loving and caring grandmother and she hopes "Rena" is proud.

Denise Coleman

Denise Anne Coleman is the youngest of Arenia’s grandchildren and blessed to have lived with her grandmother for over 18 years. In those years, Arenia’s love for God, people of all of backgrounds, and service to others would become pieces of Denise’s foundation as a young adult and eventually a family woman. Memories that Denise holds closest in her heart of her grandmother are the love she had for her family and the many friendships she had with people who looked different from her. Arenia showed God’s unconditional love in actions like growing summer gardens every year and sharing the vegetables; repairing whatever was broken; helping women and children who were less fortunate; helping family members when they came to town; including all the grandchildren in the endless projects around the house, and the constant laughter and banter Arenia had with her sisters.

Denise is married to Morris Coleman, bonus mom to Vontraniece (Rashad) Morgan, and mother to Sydni, Savoi, Chloe and Camille Coleman. She is an honored graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy and a member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is an active member of Windsor Village United Methodist Church where she fosters her faith in God her parents and grandmother instilled in her since birth.