LANCASTER—Lella Lee Davis Edwards died peacefully on October 23, 2021, at the age of 88.
Lella is survived by her four children, James F. Edwards (Denise) of Norfolk, Lella Amiss Pape (Steve) of Gainesville, Wesley H. Edwards of Virginia Beach and Lizabeth Lee Walther (Paul) of Culpeper; her brother L. Wilson Davis Jr. (Nancy) of Pasadena, Maryland; as well as nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond W. “Wes” Edwards; her mother, Lella White Clark of Baltimore, Maryland; and her father, L. Wilson Davis Sr. of Hyde, Maryland.
Lella was born on December 26, 1932, in Baltimore. She was proud to have attended Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore and Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where she met her husband, Wes. In 1970, she and Wes bought land in Lancaster County. They spent innumerable weekends and vacations there while Wes was on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, eventually settling permanently there almost 30 years ago.
In her youth, Lella trained working and show dogs alongside her father. Later she became an accomplished artist, excelling as a watercolorist and eventually turning to abstract painting. Creating and sharing art was very important to her and she was always involved with an art league wherever she was. For many years, she served on the board of directors of the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. She was a driving force locally in the transformation of the Rappahannock Art League from an informal association into a non-profit organization, having served as its first managing director and later as its board president. She also loved to teach art and often held workshops in her studio for aspiring artists, both professional or amateur, young or old.
She was also an active and dedicated member of Trinity Episcopal Church, volunteering wherever there was a need, including at vacation bible schools, ham and oyster suppers and a long-standing service on the Alter Guild.
A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. on November 7, 2021, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lancaster, with a reception to follow at the Trinity Pavilion on the church grounds. The Reverend Megan Limburg will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lella’s life. She will be buried at a later date with her husband at Arlington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rappahannock Art League or other art league of your choice. Condolences can be sent to P.O. Box 12, Lancaster, VA 22503. The family would also like to thank Lella’s many caregivers over these past five years, including especially Regina “Renata” Green and Mary Henderson, for their kindness and dedication to the comfort and care of Lella.