Edna Daves McCall

Edna Daves McCall, 100, of Grace Ridge, Morganton, NC died Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Grace Hospital following a brief illness. Born in McDowell Co., NC on December 12, 1908, she was the daughter of the late Robert Lee Daves and Lucy Roena Landis Daves. Edna was a graduate of Glen Alpine High School and attended King’s Business College in Charlotte, NC. She worked for forty-two years as an executive secretary to four presidents of Drexel Furniture Company.Edna was also a published author of three books including a biography of her brother, Robert Daves, who was a paratrooper killed in WWII. For that book, "Silver Wings and a Gold Star," she received an award in 2004 from the NC Society of Historians. At the time of her death, she was writing her memoirs of her years at Drexel Heritage Furniture.Edna loved to travel and enjoyed trips with her family throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. She was a member of Drexel First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for fifty years.Edna is survived by her son, Don McCall, and his wife Maxine of Drexel, NC; a sister, Ruby Clodfelter of Morganton; and several nieces and nephews.In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Jackson "Tom" McCall; brothers, Guy Daves, Paul Daves, and Robert Daves; and sisters, Addie Benfield and Roena Haigler.The funeral will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Drexel First Baptist Church with Reverends Tito Madrazo and Maxine McCall officiating. Burial will follow in Drexel Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lottie Moon Missions Fund of Drexel First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 308, Drexel, NC 28619. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.