mobanmarketWOODSTOCK, GA — She had a voice that was heard across the world, but Woodstock was home for Iris Dail Edwards.
The 51-year-old woman, commonly known in Woodstock as Dail, died Saturday during a shooting in Rome. According to the incident report obtained by Patch, Ellis Geoffrey Marrs is accused of shooting Edwards at a Shadowbrook Drive home.
Holly Maxwell, Edwards’ best friend for 25 years, said her death was unfathomable.
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Edwards was outspoken about being anti-gun and pro-gun control, Maxwell told Patch.
“For her life to have been taken by a gun in this shooting, it’s unfathomable,” Maxwell said.
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She remembered her friend – an opera singer who had traveled across multiple countries – as carefree, spontaneous, giving, selfless and intelligent. Maxwell said she had a magnetic personality that attracted people.
Coping with the loss of Edwards has been difficult but the community is working to ensure she’s not forgotten, Maxwell said.
“We will find justice for Dail,” she said. “That’s the only thing we can do at this point.”
Who Was Dail Edwards?
Edwards was Florida-born but she lived in several places before making her home in Woodstock. She had one brother.
Maxwell said Edwards’ journey into music most likely originated from her parents. Her father was a Methodist minister and her mother sang in the church choir and played piano.
Edwards traveled often to attend musical conservatories. To name a few places, Maxwell said the trained opera singer lived in Savannah, Kennesaw, Flowery Branch and Rome in Georgia; Rock Hill, South Carolina; Shenandoah, Virginia; Prague, Czech Republic; and Strasbourg, France. She has also lived in Tanzania and North Carolina.
Maxwell described Edwards’ high voice as a mezzo soprano. Aside from opera, Edwards was skilled in jazz, rock and pop singing.
“Her voice was specifically suited to opera singing,” Maxwell said. “She was sought after in her craft because of her singing, the range of her singing.”
Edwards attended Wednesday choir practice and Sunday service at her local church.
The songstress was also an animal lover and was vocal about liberal politics, making her well-known around Woodstock. Maxwell said Edwards owned Pet Zen, a home pet-sitting business.
Max, Edwards’ white fluffy cat with bright green eyes, is currently in the care of Maxwell.
“I can’t think of a better way to remember her than just to remember her, and I think that’s how she would want to be remembered to,” Maxwell said.
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