Melba J. Barnes Edwards, age 78 of Robbinsville went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva, NC. She was a native of Graham County and the daughter of the late Zebulon Vance and Lular Zelle Rice Barnes. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her brothers, Wayne W. and Warren Gabriel Barnes, two sisters, Helen Barnes Campbell (Baxter), Nellie Barnes Love (Bee) and an infant granddaughter Baby Justice (B.J.). Melba was a lifetime member of Sweetwater Baptist Church and was born and raised in the Sweetwater community. After their retirement from a 30 year military career, Bob and Melba resettled in the Sweetwater community that they both love. Melba was a caring and compassionate person. If the value of a life can be measured by how well you love, and the capacity to love, then Melba's life was well lived and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband of 57 years Bobby Max Edwards of the home who has been her sweetheart since grade school. Her son Robert Michael Edwards and his wife Sharon of Robbinsville; Daughters, Deborah Elaine Edwards Justice and her husband Ronnie of Cullowhee, NC, and Jeane Michelle Edwards Shiplet and her husband Matt also of Robbinsville, and two sisters, Evelyn Barnes Jones of Gastonia and Mary Marie Stevens of Robbinsville. She was a devoted grandmother and great grandmother to Desire' Edwards Carter, her husband Kevin and their daughter, Samantha (Sammy), Robert Adrian Edwards, Melba Janine Edwards, Jesse McClain Justice, Misty Marie Wilson Shope and her sons Christopher Leander, and Nathanael Alexander, Kimberly Wilson Tipton, her husband Jerry and their children, Danielle Hope, Jerry Elijah, Terra Michelle Shiplet, and a special granddaughter Katie Wilson. Funeral Services will be held at 7:00 pm Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Townson-Smith Chapel. The Reverends Jonathan McGuire and Shane Danner will officiate. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday at the Chapel prior to the service. Committal Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday at the Rice Cemetery. Townson-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.