Harriett Carlson Edwards (born September 2, 1932) died peacefully on Saturday, June 16 in Florence, Alabama, her home of forty years, with her family by her side. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Harrison Edwards, MD, Ph.D., parents, the Rev. Oscar Wilhelm Carlson and Mary Thomas Carlson, and brother, Oscar William Carlson, Jr.
She is survived by sons, Robert Scott Edwards (Jan), John Fergus Edwards, and Andrew Ellis Edwards (Jill); grandchildren Meredith Grace Edwards, Andrew Davis Edwards, and Robert Thomas Edwards; sister Mary Carlson Ruos; sisters-in-laws Carol Jones Carlson, Rev. Elizabeth G. Edwards, and Lida Edwards King; brothers-in-law James L. Ruos and Harold King; and numerous Edwards and Carlson family nieces and nephews.
Harriett was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Towson (Maryland) High School, where she was elected Girls State Governor of Maryland. She received degrees from Goucher College (Bachelor of Arts) and Northwestern University (Master of Arts in English).
She taught college English at Augustana College and the University of North Alabama. She lived in six cities with her husband Bob during his Air Force career before settling in Florence, Alabama.
Harriett found her greatest satisfaction in raising her three boys, while her many passions were led by spreading fine art and music culture to her community. She traveled the country and world often with Florence friends, seeking art and history museums. On recent trips, she would amaze younger travelers with her energy and enthusiasm.
Her past leadership positions included Shoals Symphony at UNA, President and numerous board positions; On Stage, formerly the Muscle Shoals Concert Association, numerous board positions; Kennedy Douglas Center for the Arts Board member; Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Board member; Westminster Interfaith Caring Place (WICP) Board member; Florence Tree Commission Chairwoman; American Association of University Women (AAUW), Shoals Branch, President and Board member; Lutheran Ministries of Alabama Board member; Riverbend, formerly the Muscle Shoals Mental Health Association, Board President; Northwest Alabama Reading Aides, Board President; and Medical Auxiliary of Alabama Board member.
Harriett was active with the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) and the Firenze Study Club. She was a member of the Florence Optimist Club and the Trinity Episcopal Solo group.
Recently the Shoals Symphony at UNA and On Stage collaborated to dedicate its March 4, 2018 concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to Harriett in order to recognize her contributions to both the organizations and the community in promoting the arts. She helped create the Shoals Symphony Orchestra thirty-five years ago, playing violin in the initial concerts. She has served on the board since its creation, many times as President. She was instrumental in developing the outreach program, Strings for Students. Harriett has also served on the board of On Stage for decades and for most of that time was in charge of procuring major concerts, such as the National Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin to perform in Florence. In 2015 she was the recipient of the Shoals Symphony Philanthropy award. This award is given by the conductor, staff, and Shoals Symphony Orchestra Board.
Harriett’s friends often teased her that she must be running a boarding house on Wood Avenue because she would so often open her home to visitors. Students, visiting musicians, and friends could always find hospitality- a bed in the upstairs “dormitory”, soup on the stove, and a compassionate ear.
Confirmed by her father, the Rev. Oscar W. Carlson at Ascension Lutheran Church, Towson, Maryland, she was a forty (40) year member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Florence.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be given to On Stage, PO Box 255, Florence, AL 35631, which plans to endow a music scholarship at the University of North Alabama in her memory, or to Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, P.O. Box 293, Clay, AL 35048.
