Joan C. Edwards

Joan C. Edwards (1918 – May 7, 2006) was a New Orleans jazz singer and well-known West Virginia-based philanthropist.

Biography

Born Joan Cavill in London, England, she moved to New Orleans at the age of four. By age 11, she was singing on New Orleans radio station WWL, the start of a musical career that included filming movie shorts, singing with orchestras, recording with Clyde McCoy and his Kentucky Band, and performing in New York, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

While singing at Pittsburgh's William Penn Hotel, she met James F. Edwards, owner and CEO of National Mattress Company (Namaco), whom she married in 1937. [ [http://www.marshall.edu/ucomm/release/2006/jce/index.html "In Memoriam Joan Cavill Edwards"] , "Marshall University", accessed [May 12, 2006] ] She moved to Huntington, West Virginia, native home of her husband.

Joan and James Edwards donated more than $65 million to Marshall University and the Huntington community. [ [http://www.herald-dispatch.com/assets/pdf/C127856511.PDF] ] She was the largest single donor to Marshall University in the modern era. Joan C. Edwards died on May 7, 2006 from liver cancer. She spent the last few days of her life receiving treatment and care in the cancer center she helped to create. [ [http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/060509-staff-edwards.html Huntington News ] ]

Buildings named after her

* [http://musom.marshall.edu/ Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine]
*Marshall University Joan C. Edwards Stadium
* [http://www.marshall.edu/campus/jomie_jazz/ Marshall University Jomie Jazz Center]
* [http://www.marshall.edu/campus/virtualtour.asp?id=7 Marshall University Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center]
* [http://edwardsccc.org/ Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center]

Marshall University - Joan C. Edwards Cancer Center, named in 2007

Trivia

Joan C. Edwards Stadium is the only NCAA Division I stadium named after a woman.

Notes