Finding that one individual to be the Annual Strawberry Festival’s Special Person is a difficult task for the event’s committee. Year after year, committee members must shuffle through recommendation after recommendation of wonderful area residents.
But this year’s selection was as simple to piece together as strawberry shortcake.
Mrs. Georgie Edwards, 85, represents everything the Strawberry Festival symbolizes: friendship and community closeness.
‘My favorite part of the festival has always been seeing the old friends and the people from all around,? said Edwards. ‘It makes you feel good when you see people you haven’t seen in years.
‘Even when I can’t make it to the festival, people will come and see me,? she added. ‘The kids will stop over -, well, I guess they aren’t kids anymore. They’re all grown up with children of their own. – But they’ll stop over and see me. I love that.?
Mrs. Edwards is a life long resident of Leonard. She and her late husband Clayton have two children, David and the late Frederick, and eight grandchildren. During her life, Edwards said she did what every woman should do: she took care of her family as well as her mother and stepfather.
When asked what she thought of being the Strawberry Festival’s Special Person, Mrs. Edwards just wasn’t sure about the whole situation.
‘I was going to say no at first,? she explained. ‘I’m not well, so I didn’t want to not be able to keep a promise, and I’ve never been much for neighboring or making a big deal.
‘I finally said yes because I thought it might be the last chance I have to do something like this, and I’ve always stood behind the fire department.?
Mrs. Edwards talked about how important the fire department is to Addison Township. She remembered back to when she was young and area residents didn’t have the department, just the bells on the local church and the ‘bucket brigades? formed by neighbors.
She described how she would watch homes burn while neighbors tried to fight the blaze by passing water from person to person. Later in her life, she stood by and watched her own home burn.
‘The most important thing though was the love of our neighbors,? she emphasized. ‘Our house burned and by that night, neighbors were coming over to give us furniture and plates and things again.
‘You’d appreciate the fire department if you’d grown up when I did. To me, I really do respect the fire department out here.?
Mrs. Edwards has seen plenty of change during her 85 years in Leonard. She watched as the village went from a thriving destination stop with buggies lined up for miles to the quaint town of today. However, Edwards made sure to note that one thing has never changed.
‘Back when I was growing up everyone in town bonded. The town was like a great big family and I hope it stays that way. No matter who comes or goes, I would like to see the people stay the same, friendly,? she concluded.