Mary Edwards Smith went home to be with the Lord on April 30, 2025 after battling cancer. She stayed strong and kept her faith in God until he called her home. She was 74 years old and a lifelong resident of Bixby, OK and a citizen of Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Mary never had any children of her own but she was an integral part of the lives of her nieces and nephews. She would never miss any of their events and would spend time with each of them playing games and working on arts and crafts.
As a child Mary and her twin brother Larry were always into mischief and kept the rest of the siblings on their toes, especially her older sister Sharon who thought Mary was her real life baby doll. Her brothers and sisters would say she was always a feisty little lady and often thought of as the firecracker of the family.
Mary was hardworking, very compassionate and caring, always providing assistance to everyone, especially elders who did not have family members to look after them.
Mary loved all animals, especially weenie dogs. She had several weenie dog companions over the years. She also loved traveling, especially the trips to the beach and Moundville Alabama. Mary was always there for her family and friends with an ice cold Coca Cola and open arms to listen and love without judgement.
Mary was a Native American artist who won Muscogee (Creek) Nation Artist of Year in 2016 and was awarded Muscogee (Creek) Nation Living Legend in 2023. She was very talented and enjoyed making pottery, beadwork, twining, textiles, stain glass, corn husk dolls, feather work, and basket weaving. Mary is a self taught basket weaver and teacher. She began weaving in 2001. Weaving was a passion for Mary and she believed her basket weaving was a gift from God. Most notably she revived the Creek Double False Braid Rim in 2005. This rimming method was unique only to the Creek basketry; it had not been done for 100-150 years. Mary traveled teaching to other Native American tribes and anyone who had the desire to learn. She spent a lot of time traveling and teaching in Moundville, Alabama, Macon, Georgia and Washington D.C. Her art can be found on display in various museums and exhibits within the United States. Mary’s impact will span many generations and live on with the Mvskoke people. She has been recognized and garnered multiple awards for many of her artworks. However, when Mary was asked what her greatest accomplishment was it was being known as a Native American Muscogee Creek basket teacher, “Svmpv Hayetv Mvhayv.”
She was survived by her sister Sharon Walkup of Jay, Dolly “ Jean” Luckey and husband Steve Luckey of Liberty Mounds, nephew Michael Walkup of Jay, niece Angela Wiggins and husband Jared Wiggins of Grove, nephew George Luckey and wife Amy Luckey, of Dearborn, Michigan, niece Margret “ Maggie” Edwards of Haskell, nephews Ryan Edwards of Haskell, Paul Wayne Edwards and Bobby Jo Edwards,
10 great nieces and nephews and 4 great great nieces and nephews. Mary also had cousins and friends that loved her as well.
She was preceded in death by her parents Margret Hoover Edwards and Joe John Edwards. Twin brother Larry Lee Edwards, brother Joe Robert Edwards, brother-in-law Jerry Walkup and sister-in-law Linda Edwards.
Mary was loved and will be missed by everyone who knew her. “This is not Goodbye, it is until we meet again in Heaven.”
