M. Jean Edwards, 78, passed away peacefully at Calcutta House on February 26, 2025 after a recurrence of cancer. She was born on December 7, 1946 in Chambersburg, PA, daughter of Ruth Ann and Emlyn Edwards. Having achieved a BA in Fine and Studio Arts at Wilson College in Chambersburg, VA, she continued her studies in the arts, receiving an MFA in Painting from Virginia Commonwealth University and later an MFA in Interior Design, also from VCU in Richmond, VA.

Jean's professional career began as Assistant Professor at Winthrop University in South Carolina from 1987 until 1995 when she accepted an Assistant Professorship at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. From then till her retirement in 2018, Jean served variously as a Professor, Assistant Director of the School of Architecture and Design, and Coordinator of the Interior Design Program at ULL.

Jean was a member of the National Writing Project of Acadiana, and she was esteemed for her professional and personal writing. In doing research for a paper on Katsura Imperial Villa in 2013, she became a fellow at the Japan Studies Institute. She was an active member of IDEC (Interior Design Educators Council), an organization dedicated to advancing education and research in interior design. Within the organization she published regularly, served on publication panels and presented at conferences. In 2008, she was inducted as a Fellow in IDEC.

Post-retirement, Jean pursued some of her personal interests. She was a Founding Member of Designing Women of Acadiana which is dedicated to advocating about economic and social issues that impact design and life. She also grew her love of music and writing, maintaining a poetry writing practice for more than a decade. Additionally, she donated regularly to causes she favored.

Jean is survived by one brother, Tom Edwards who loved and misses her deeply; a sister-in-law, Terry Galen, who along with Tom resides in Moab, UT; a niece, Meera Edwards; and a nephew, Brendan Edwards. She was preceded in death by her parents Emlyn Reece and Ruth Ann (Poling) Edwards.

Any memorial contributions may be made to the ULL School of Architecture and Design (Interior Design) through the ULL Foundation or IDEC's scholarship programs through the IDEC Foundation.