Mrs. Edna M. Sparks

Celebration of a Life Well Lived - Edna M. Sparks

Edna Muriel (Underdue) Sparks was born April 8, 1931 in Gaston, NC. She was one of 12 children born to the late William and Martha (Adkins) Underdue. She received her early education in the Gaston/Northampton county school system, however the untimely death of her mother when Edna was 11 years of age made it necessary for the children to take on the responsibility for each other and discontinue going to school. She looked after her younger brother Jasper “Liv” Livingston Underdue until the age of sixteen. Edna helped tend the family farmland along with her siblings and spoke often about raising chickens and growing vegetables to feed the family. She never lost her love for nature and could predict the weather better than any meteorologist just by looking at the sky and feeling the atmosphere. She would never get the chance to return to school for higher education, but her natural wisdom, keen discernment and strong faith served her well in life. Extremely organized and meticulous with facts and figures, Edna became a strong support for her future husband in the home and business that they built together.

Edna’s older brother Thomas, who had moved to Albany following the passing of their parents and found success, advocated that she try relocating as well. She arrived in Albany in 1947, and stayed for a while with her Aunt Elizabeth Harding of Troy, NY while doing domestic work and baby sitting. Her brother Thomas introduced her to his best friend, Barry, a young man about town and suggested he introduce Edna to some potential suitors.  It was not long before Barry realized that he was best suited for her and the young couple fell in love and married on her birthday in 1949. They started a family right away with Brenda being born the same year. When her eldest brother Wilbur passed, she brought her niece Phyllis from Gaston to join their family. At the time of her husband’s passing, Edna and Barry were married for 74 years and raised 8 children together.

The Sparks family lived on Second Street in Arbor Hill, where they ran Rite Cleaners, the dry cleaning business that Barry bought from his employer in 1952. The creative entrepreneurs made the most of the property on the busy corner of Second & Swan streets. They taught themselves to tailor garments and offered this service along with dry cleaning and laundering. Edna and her sister Millicent opened a popular take out restaurant in the garage on the Second Street side that her brother-in-law George remodeled. It was called E & M Take Out and customers loved stopping in for delicious mini chili hot dogs, fish fry’s and ice cream for several years. All the children worked with them in both businesses as they became of age and the Sparks family thrived along with several other family-owned businesses in the neighborhood. 

Edna worked alongside her husband in Arbor Hill for over 30 years, managing a total of 17 stores at various times across the city of Albany. The business and family home moved to Colonie in the 1980’s where Wolf Road Cleaners continued for another 20 years. October 30, 2015 was declared "Edna and Barry Sparks Day" by Mayor Kathy Sheehan in honor of their service to community for 50 years.They were also honored by the Capital District Senior Issues Forum in 2016.

Well known for her exceptional cooking and baking, Edna shared that passion with all of her daughters. She loved to feed anyone who stopped by. The family home on Second Street was famous for good food, fun times and was always welcoming to visitors. The Sparks family is woven into the fabric of Arbor Hill culture and as such was recognized as a Family of Distinction by the Capital District Links, Inc. (circa) 1988.

In Arbor Hill, Edna could keep an eye on the house, the business, and the children at St. Joseph’s school from that one vantage point on Second & Swan. It wasn’t easy but she has always credited God for providing the strength to do everything. Edna officially gave her life to Christ on the first Sunday in January, 1969 after having a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit at Metropolitan Baptist Church. She felt a special anointing on her life and vowed to serve and share the light of God as her personal ministry forever. She soon after became a lifetime member of Bethany Baptist Church and served with her whole heart until her very last day. She was consecrated as a Deaconess in 2001 and enjoyed a life of service and mentoring others in their walk with the Lord. Her faith and commitment to God was openly evident to anyone coming into contact with her, as she was a fierce prayer warrior ready to cover you as needed at any time. Never one for public accolades, a major highlight of her life was in  2015 when she was nominated by her Pastor John B. Killikelly to be honored as "Seasoned Saint of the Year" for dedication to serving God and others and received her very own “Stellar Award” from the Hudson River Frontier Missionary Baptist Association. It was ironic that two years later she would have an opportunity to attend the Stellar Gospel Music Awards with her husband, and during a taping break was singled out in an audience of over 8,000 people as being married the longest. The Holy Spirit took over and she literally blessed that whole crowd with a wave of her hands while shouting in praise. It was an unforgettable moment and true demonstration of the power of God in her life.

A true creative with lots of style,  Edna was always coming up with innovative ideas, like “blinging out” her canes and decorating them to match outfits. Some will remember her handmade dolls, called “Time Out Kids”. Each doll was one of a kind and she sold them  in the Colonie Center mall for several years with her dear friend Mary Walsh. Edna loved to have fun. Some of her favorite things to do were playing Pokeno and bingo with family and friends, watching game shows, and her beloved New York Mets. Most of all, she loved to simply connect with God’s people and maybe give a Holy two step dance with her cane. She never met a stranger, everyone was a friend. She could strike up a conversation with just about anyone to find a common thread. It truly brought her joy to know that she was able to lift someone’s spirits with just a kind word. Edna will be dearly remembered for many quotables, like a simple “Hallelujah” and the unforgettable,  “Help Somebody. But if you can’t help them don’t harm them”.

Edna was preceded in death by her dear husband Barry B. Sparks, Jr.; siblings Ozella Vincent (1st Edward, 2nd Joe Hamlin); Blanche Underdue; Mattie Easter (Johnny); Elaine Underdue; Wilbur  Underdue (Minnie) -all of North Carolina; Hazel Ross (John) and William Underdue Jr. of MD; Thomas Underdue (1st Lucille, 2nd Grace) of IL; Jasper Livingston Underdue of NY; eldest daughter Brenda Renee Sparks of MD; Granddaughter Quadraya V. Sparks and Grandson Samad Cromwell of NY.

Memories of Edna will be cherished by; Sisters Elizabeth Ross of Littleton, NC; Millicent (Rev. Ronald Sr.) Duncan of Jonesboro,  GA; Sisters-in-Law Mandy Underdue of Glen Burnie, MD; and Frances Underdue of Albany, NY; Daughter/Niece Phyllis Chambers (Sherman) of Albany, NY;  her children, Linda Sparks of Baltimore, MD; Donna (Oasis) Sparks, Barry B. Sparks III (Michelle), Patricia Sparks, Curtis Sparks, of Albany, NY and Sonya Marchand (Mitchell) of Los Angeles, California; Grandchildren Rilenda Darnell, Mia (Don), Elias, Myles, Coltrane, Brielle; Great Grandchildren Briana, Donnell (Anna), James, Melia and Emani; Great-Great Grandchildren Maliha and Bilal, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

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