WEAVERVILLE – Edna Edwards Ponder, age 93 of Weaverville, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Mrs. Ponder was born on June 12, 1932, in Buncombe County where she had lived all of her life. She was a member of Union Valley Freewill Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading, word search, canning from the garden, and more than anything she loved her family. She was the daughter of the late “Fate” and Nancy Phillips Edwards, and wife of the late Rev. Marvin John Ponder. She was also preceded in death by her son, Johnny Ponder; sisters, Florence Honeycutt, and Marjorie Styles; and brothers, Barnett, Glen, Raymond, Jerry, Howard, C.L., and Carroll Edwards.

Surviving are her daughters, Marilyn Shelton, and Rhonda Cantrell and husband Marty; son, Alvin Ponder and wife Tammy; grandchildren, Roger and Tony Shelton, Derek Ponder, Brittany Ponder, Bridget Sneed, Breanna Allen, and Brooke Hensley; great grandchildren, Brandi, Hannah, Hope, Landon, Hailey, Jacob, Lucus, Kyndall, Pressley, Emma, Noah, Caidin, Mason, Connor; and great great grandchildren, Trenton, Weston, Grayson, Levi, and Alice.

Her funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, February 26, 2026, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Rev. Darrell Roberts and Rev. Weldon Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow in West Memorial Park, 40 Roberts St., Weaverville.

The family will receive friends from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving the Ponder family. Condolences may be offered to the family under her obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.