Beverly Lyn Cruz

Beverly Lyn (Edwards) Cruz passed away peacefully on Friday, 17 July 2026, at the age of 72.

Bev was born in Newberry, SC, one of the few in her family to be born in a hospital, to the late Johnny Lewis Edwards and Patricia Sue Edwards Storey. She was the eldest of eight children. Bev grew up in Saluda County, SC, amongst a large extended family. She graduated from Saluda High School in 1971. She attended the University of South Carolina for one year and met her future husband, Angel A. Cruz, Jr., an Army officer. They were married in 1973 and celebrated 53 years together in April. During their marriage, they were twice stationed in Germany due to his military service and travelled all over Europe. Bev completed college at Florissant Valley School of Nursing in 1985 and became a nurse while they were stationed in St. Louis, MO. Her nursing career spanned from being an aide in a nursing home to being a hospice nurse for over 23 years. Much of her nursing career was spent in northern Virginia. She retired in Saluda, SC after serving several years as an in-home hospice nurse. Bev had one child, Carmen L. Cruz of Lexington, SC.

Bev is preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Susan Belcher and Van Edwards. She is survived by her husband Angel and daughter Carmen, sisters Julie Crummie (Charles) of Saluda, Johnette Devore (Jody) of Greenwood, Barbara Hudgens (Myron) of Lewisville, NC, and Amanda Black (Scotty) of Saluda, a brother Chris Edwards of Johnston, SC, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her stepfather, William Storey, and brother-in-law, Benjie Belcher, both of Saluda.

Bev loved dogs. She fostered Jack Russell Terriers for Jack Russell Rescue in Virginia. She accepted her most recent foster in 2025 in the form of a small dog from Puerto Rico previously owned by a distant relative who had passed away.

In lieu of flowers, Bev asked that donations be made to any dog rescue (https://www.americanhumane.org/support-our-work/donate) or ActBlue (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/actblue-1) to support Democratic candidates.

There will be a memorial service for Beverly on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 2pm in the chapel at Thompson Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, SC.