40 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com had patients. She was inspirational. I recommended her to the South Carolina Hall of Fame.” Edwards also has fond memories of her husband’s campaign for governor. “I had to campaign all over the state, so I saw South Carolina like I never would’ve seen it otherwise. Different cultures. Tobacco in PeeDee and the peach culture… and to go and visit those places and talk to the people and find out what was going on. It really enabled me to know my state. The people were genuine, wonderful people. And they were proud of their state. It was a learning experience and it was wonderful.” One of the most memorable occasions Ann had while serving as First Lady was meeting Queen Elizabeth in Philadelphia when the royal yacht visited in 1976 for our country’s bicentennial. “She invited all the governors and their wives. That was quite an occasion. It was a beautiful yacht and a wonderful experience. When we were there, Jim asked the queen if she’d come to Charleston. He told her, ‘You know, it is named for your forebear.’ She knew all about it. But she said, ‘I can’t — I’m booked up. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll send Charles.’ And you know, he came.” Edwards acknowledged, “It was a privilege to be in the governor’s mansion.” And she thinks every South Carolinian should visit it. “Take your child or daughter,” she urged. While living there, Edwards decided to tell the story of the mansion, and she co-authored a book “The Governor’s Mansion of the Palmetto State” with South Carolina historians Walter Edgar, George C. Rogers, George Terry and Augustus T. Grayden in 1978. Another of Edward’s legacies is her effort to save the Mount Pleasant home of founding father, Charles Pinckney, from real estate development. “I was on the board of the Historic Charleston Foundation. We needed to raise money to buy it so we could develop it as a historic site. We had people — boy scouts and all — from throughout South Carolina donate. And I went to talk to the people in Washington about it. It is a wonderful place. It would be awful if we didn’t have that.” Edwards has given back to Charleston area time and time again. However, she feels it is Charleston and her home in Mount Pleasant that keep giving back to her. “One of the most wonderful things is I love where I live. I lived next door as a young girl and coming back, I try to walk a mile every day on my dock. I just marvel at the resources we have with nature right here and how wonderful it is. And I see the sunset and see the ships coming in. It’s just a privilege to live here in the village. I count it a real blessing.” our town Non-Profit, Faith-based Senior Solutions Independent Living Apartments & Patio Homes Assisted Living & Memory Care Short-term Rehab • Long-term Care 1885 Rifle Range Rd. • Mt. Pleasant Schedule a tour! 843.856.4713 or 800.940.7435 FrankeAtSeaside.org Staying cool was never so much fun. Live your lifestyle at the community Charlestonians love.
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