What’s Your Story? “Give her flowers while she was still alive”

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - How often do you regret not recognizing or praising someone for their value when they are still around to hear it. Well, that was not about to happen to one Northeast Louisiana community.

In this edition of What’s Your Story, a birthday party that features a surprise gift and a walk down memory lane with a coach who still makes a difference, even though she retired 33 years ago.

“I’m a goat. And me being 90 years old, I know what a goat would.”

Quick-witted and fiercely competitive, Wisner resident Gladys Edwards continues to win at life.

Edwards says “I love coaching and I love my job.”

That love was mutual - Morehouse, Tensas and Concordia Parish showered her with affection and championships.

“What are you going to do now? You want a champion? I’m going to see how many I can win,” Edwards said.

The Queen of the Court won six titles over an 11 year span, the six-time Louisiana Coach of the Year went on to win 88% of her games.

Her friend Roosevelt Grant said, "I love this woman like she’s a mother, and I know how her team and her girls felt.”

Edward’s walls are lined with gifts, trophies and awards.

“We wanted to give her flowers while she was still alive,” Grant said.

However, a call from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association never came.

“I was down and out. I was highly disappointed when I didn’t get it,” Edwards said.

With an assist from Franklin Parish School officials and state leaders, Edwards’ name was placed on the LHSAA Hall of Fame ballot for the final time.

We would like to present you your Hall of Fame. We are inducting you this year and this is your certificate into the Hall of Fame. So very well deserved.

“I retired in 1992, I received this award in 2025, I really did not think it was coming,” Edwards said. “Like you said, God be the glory. Yes, Lord.”

“I’m not a cry, but to see her cry, that made me cry. Because I know the journey she’s been in and doing all this," Grant said. “She was a mother, a coach, trainer, Everything to these girls.”

A birthday gift that Coach Edwards will share with loved ones at the induction ceremony in April.

“Oh, it’s going to be out of sight. It’s going to be out of sight. Crying, crying days. That’s going to be out. That’s going to mean a whole lot to me,” Edwards said.

“My fire cracker, you know I love you,” Grant said.

What a classy lady, Happy Belated 90th Birthday Coach Edwards.