Mrs. Edmonia B. Fisher was born in Wysacky, South Carolina on May 2, 1931, to Reverend Charlton and Mrs. Pauline McLeod Brown. She was preceded in death by all 13 of her siblings and her loving daughter, Mrs. Jean Stevenson.

Edmonia was the first in her family of 14 children to have graduated from college. As a teen, she attended South Carolina State University for one year. At the age of seventeen, she attended Hampton Training School of Nursing and it was there that she graduated with a degree in Nursing on February 6, 1955.

Edmonia became the first African-American nurse from Lee County, South Carolina. Her portrait is among Lee County's Wall of Firsts located at the Woodward Library of Archives and Research. In 1965, she became the first African-American Operating Room Nurse at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  She excelled as an OR nurse. In fact, several doctors would specifically request her to be their lead nurse in the operating room. One surgeon even convinced Edmonia to come out of retirement part-time to assist him during his operations before she retired for good.

As a single parent, Edmonia raised her children with love, discipline, and pride. She also had a sense of humor and a knack for storytelling, something that her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews enjoyed. She was so very proud of all her children. The fact that she raised her children (who have college degrees) single-handedly while working full-time and was actively involved with her church and community is a testament to her resilience.

She was also proud of her heritage, being a second cousin to the great educator, Dr. Mary McLeod-Bethune.

Edmonia was always a sports enthusiast. She was a passionate watcher of tennis, football, basketball, and golf. She was quite the athlete herself as evidenced by her being one of the star basketball players at Dennis High School and Hampton Training School of Nursing. Later, she became the starting pitcher for the "Scrubbies", the women's softball team for Baptist Hospital, during the 1980s. She was also an avid fisher - she won many senior citizens fishing contests at Salem Lake in Winston-Salem.

Edmonia loved gardening and cooking. For nearly 50 years, Edmonia planted vegetable gardens that produced delicious vegetables for her family and loved ones. Her flower gardens that beautified her home year after year brought joy and wonderment to her family and community.

Can we say mouth-watering fried chicken, awesome cornbread, tasty collard greens, divine apple and sweet potato pies, and savory vegetable soups…. they were Mama Edmonia's specialties. She put her whole body into preparing these dishes for all to enjoy.

Edmonia was known for her generous giving and caring heart. Throughout the years, she offered her modest home as a haven for family and friends as they went through their transitions in life.  Often, she brought healing and comfort to close friends and family by nursing them back to health in her own special way. She provided nourishing and healing meals too, especially during their times of bereavement.  She was a beloved member of Middle Fork Christian Church. During part of her active tenure, she was responsible for managing the church's meal preparation for events. She also mentored some of her sisters in Christ in the art of food preparation and presentation.

Edmonia leaves to cherish to fond memories, her son, Robert L. Fisher Jr.; her daughter, Dr. Denise Fisher; her daughter, Sharon R. Fisher; grandson, Anthony E. Johnson Jr. (Cheri); granddaughter, Lajeana D. Stevenson; grandson, Calvin L. Stevenson, Jr.; God-daughter, Lula (Ross) Gray; son-in law, Calvin (Angela) L. Stevenson, Sr.; sister-in-law, Mrs. Minnie Brown; niece, Evelma (Ejnor) Allen; nephew, Leon (Jennifer) Brown; nephew, Barry Brown; nephew, Neal Brown; niece, Patricia (Joe) Montalvo; best friend, Mrs. Mildred Williams; 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends; and her pets, Pumpkin and Precious.

Memorial services will be held at 12:00noon Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Middlefork Christian Church. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 12:00noon on Saturday at the Church.