Denise Marie Edwards

Denise graduated from Norview High School in 1975. She met her husband, James, in 1976 and their family grew to include daughter, Kristina, and son, James. Over the years, while raising their family, they also rescued and raised 7 different 4-legged family members. Denise loved the companionship of animals, and the house was rarely without animals to take care of and love.

Denise spent most of her career supporting the inaugural efforts of organized youth soccer and was a visionary and an invaluable contributor to programs in Virginia and the District of Columbia. She devoted almost 40 years to serving the soccer community at the local, state, regional and national levels as she navigated the organizational politics inherent in any organization for the betterment of all of Virginia soccer. On the regional and national levels Denise was a respected and sought-out state president. Her knowledge of the soccer business, construction business, and local government political processes, along with her perseverance, provided great leadership and success for the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA).

She was an ardent supporter of the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program and youth soccer in Virginia, the U.S., and internationally. She also coached and served as the Southeastern VYSA administrator, area commissioner, parliamentarian, and president of Norfolk Youth Soccer League; Executive Director of Virginia Rush (formerly Virginia Beach Soccer Club); administrator of Virginia Soccer League, Inc., and Virginia Youth Soccer Association President. Most notably, she was inducted into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014 and VYSA President of the Year in 2023.

After 22 years of service, Denise retired from the VYSA, but her legacy and dedication to the betterment of youth soccer has been solidified for all time coming. She will be remembered by the soccer community as a “pillar of strength and perseverance” and “one of the most dynamic Presidents in the history of the VYSA.”

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, James Edwards; children, Kristina Shorter (David) and James Aaron (Betsy); grandchildren, Alexandra (Jordan), Angelica, Jacob, Hunter, Hailee, and Ella; great-granddaughter, Alina Sofia; and brothers John Franklin III, Phillip Franklin(Sylvia), John Morrison (Terry), along with several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Bryan Franklin Jr, Mother Betty Jane Franklin and her nephew Phillip Franklin.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502.