Edith Stanley

Edith Thompson Stanley of Norfolk, Virginia transitioned on April 15, 2023 after a lengthy battle with stroke complications. She was born July 14, 1930 in Norfolk, VA to Edward and Lillie Burns Thompson. Edith graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1947 and then attended Norfolk State College.  She graduated from Virginia State College in 1951.

Edith returned to Norfolk and married Edward Lee Stanley, a WWII veteran and a United States Post Office employee.  The couple were blessed with a son Stephen P. Stanley of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a daughter Cassandra Stanley Lancaster of Norfolk, Virginia.

Edith began her career as an elementary teacher in the Norfolk Public School System in 1954, and she retired in 1985. She then taught at GreenHill Farms Academy. She enjoyed working with children! She was a Den Mother of Den 3 in Scout Troop 702 of the Chesapeake District, and a member of Tidewater Area Musicians.  Also, at St. Paul C.M.E. where she was a lifelong member, Edith taught Sunday School and played piano and organ for many years.

Edith loved playing games and was a member of a Pinochle card playing group that began at Virginia State College and continued for decades in Norfolk. She especially enjoyed brain-stimulating games such as Dominoes, Scrabble, and Words with Friends.  Crafting, sewing, and quilting also gave her great satisfaction.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband Edward Stanley, her Parents Edward Thompson and Lillie Mae Burns Thompson, her siblings (Paul Thompson, Doretha Thompson McCoy, Thomas Thompson, Abraham Thompson) and her stepson Harold E. Stanley.

She is survived by her son Stephen P. Stanley, daughter Cassandra Stanley Lancaster (Brian), grandchildren (Sherita Stanley, Shevonne Stanley, Ankha Stanley, Stephen K. Stanley, Brandon Lancaster (Stacey) and Bria Lancaster), daughters-in-love, Shirley Stanley and Dorothea Stanley and many friends and relatives whose hearts she touched with her special kindness and love. A memorial service will be held on May 6, 2023 at St. Paul C.M.E Church, 310 E. Va. Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23510 at 11:00 A.M. Please bring a quilt that she made for you.  We will/ want to display it. To view the service on ZOOM, use ID#: 355-705-902 and PW#: 076708.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Tidewater Alumni Chapter of VSU Endowed Scholarship Fund, which she helped start, will be greatly appreciated.  Make checks payable to VSU with a note in the memo line stating:  IMO Edith Stanley, TAC Endowed Scholarship Fund and mail to Office of Institutional Advancement, VSU, P.O. Box 9027, Va. State University, VA 23806. Persons may donate through this link https://giving.vsu.edu/greatergifts or via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FDEPPH8HT96G4 or via Cash App using Cash Tag: $vsuaatidewater.  For all methods, note: TAC Endowed Scholarship Fund IMO Edith Stanley.

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