Stephen Blake Edge

Stephen Blake Edge, 28, of Brown Avenue, Morganton, NC died Friday, March 10, 2006 at Lake James following a boating accident. He was born August 4, 1977 in Burke County, NC, and was a son of Maurice Edge and Rose Ann Waters Edge of Morganton. Stephen was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lewis and Maude Edge; and an infant sister, Sharon Joyce Edge. He was a 1995 graduate of Freedom High School and a 1997 graduate of Western Piedmont Community College. Stephen graduated from Appalachian State University in 2001 with a dual degree in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems. He was a math instructor at Liberty Middle School and was the assistant coach for the girl’s basketball team. He had started working through the lateral entry program in August of 2004 for his teaching certificate. Stephen was a lifelong member of Calvin Heights Baptist Church in Morganton. He accepted Jesus into his life in April of 1990 and was baptized on May 27, 1990. Stephen was a member of the children’s choir and the R.A.’s at the church. He was an active member of the church youth program. Stephen was presently attending West Court Baptist Church in Marion, NC. He was an avid outdoorsman; enjoying hiking and canoeing.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Mark D. and Mindy Edge of Morganton; his fiancée, Erin Selm of Morganton; maternal grandparents, Bland and Estilene Waters of Rutherfordton, NC; uncles and aunts, Charles and Doris Jean Edge of Morganton, Buck and Adalene Ransone of Greensboro, NC, Martha and Roger Wells, Frank Waters, Edward and Kim Waters, all of Rutherfordton, Douglas Waters of El Paso, TX, Blandene and Paul Tate of Shelby, NC, and Kay Webb of Inman, SC; and a host of cousins and other beloved relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 1, 2006 at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Dewey Thomas, Rev. Michael Beshears, and Mr. David Burleson, Superintendent of Burke County Schools officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at Sossoman Funeral Home. At other times, the family will be at the residence of Maurice and Rose Ann Edge, 205 Normandy Dr., Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, PO Box 1159, Morganton, NC 28680, or to the Burke County Rescue Squad, 120 St. Mary’s Church Rd., Morganton, NC 28655, or the Liberty Middle School Media Center, 529 Enola Rd., Morganton, NC 28655. Online condolences may be made at www.sossomanfuneralservice.com.