Brooke Lauren Edwards Obituary (1995

Brooke Lauren Edwards passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Friday, September 12, 2014. Brooke is the daughter of Laurie Schatzel Edwards and Irby C. Edwards III. Brooke was born on August 6, 1995. She was a 2013 graduate of North Forsyth High School and currently was a sophomore at Georgia Southern University and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. From the time Brooke was a little girl, she has always had an incredible love for animals. As a young adult, Brooke devoted her time to their rescue, care and love - always finding homes for those she couldn't keep. Brooke volunteered at horse rescues and animal shelters, it has been said that "until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened", Brooke lived her life truly awake in this way. At the time of her passing, Brooke was working at the Otter Conservancy in Statesboro, Georgia. Her absence will be felt not only by her family and friends, but also by her four-legged "family" as well. It gives her family great comfort to know that she is now in Heaven running "God's Kennel" surrounded for eternity by those whom she loved best and loved her. Brooke touched so many lives during her short time on this earth. We know that her memory will forever live on in the hearts of her friends, sorority sisters, and extended family. She is survived by her closest confidante and mother, Laurie Schatzel Edwards, her "little" brother, Kyle Edwards, father Irby C. Edwards III and wife Marcy, step sisters Michelle Grimes (Ryan), Brandi Thompson (Andrew). Her step father, Brett Matthews and step sister and brother Moriah and Caleb. Her memory will forever be treasured by her grandparents Phil and Janice Schatzel and Irby and Elizabeth Edwards. Aunts and Uncles, Keith and Stephanie Edwards and their children Lynne Marie and Michael Edwards, Tina Edwards, Glenn Schatzel, David Schatzel, and Joelle and Scott Cochran and their son Grant. Not to forget Brooke's faithful companion "Grit". Services will be held on Saturday, September 20th at 3:30 PM in the McDonald and Son Funeral Home Chapel - 150 Sawnee Dr., Cumming, GA 30040. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you would consider making a donation to either the Otter Conservation Center or the Canine Pet Rescue in Brooke's name as a way to honor her memory and help her work to live on through family and friends. Donations can be sent to either the: Otter Conservation Center, 250 Otter Conservation Rd., Statesboro, GA 30458 or Canine Pet Rescue , PO Box 248, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. And though our arms are empty, our hearts know what to do, every beat of our heart will say "Brooke, we remember you" August 1995-September 2014 Arrangements by McDonald & Son Funeral Home & Crematory, 150 Sawnee Dr., Cumming, GA 30040 770.886.9899