Meet Regina Edwards- La Rue the Chairman of Merritt Family Reunion
Introducing Regina Edwards- La Rue the Chairman of Alberta Merritt Family Reunion and the CEO of Alberta Truss Merritt Legacy.
Regina Edwards is the grand-daughter of Alberta Truss Merritt and the daughter of Sudie Pearl Edwards & Pasco Edwards.
Regina Edwards is the granddaughter of Alberta Truss Merritt and the daughter of Sudie Pearl Edwards and Pasco Edwards. Regina grew up in Ethel, Mississippi, right next door to her grandmother, where she experienced firsthand the deep love and nurturing spirit of her grandmother, Alberta.
As a child, Regina was allowed to comb and style her grandmother’s hair and even experiment with makeup at just eight years old. These early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for beauty and creativity. That passion eventually led Regina Edwards to become a master hairstylist and the founder of her own beauty brand, CoCo La Rue.
Through CoCo La Rue, Regina developed a full line of beauty products, including hair care, makeup, and hair extensions that have been worn by high-end clients around the world. For the past 15 years, she has operated her hair business in Washington, D.C., while also traveling internationally to serve elite clientele. She has worked in major cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Regina credits her grandmother, Alberta Truss Merritt, for her discipline, knowledge, and deep love for family. She also holds her parents, Pasco and Sudie Edwards, close to her heart, describing them as the “apple of her eye.” Regina’s mother, Sudie, was raised by Alberta Truss Merritt, continuing a strong legacy of family values. Regina was taught the importance of unity, love, and support within the family, and the belief that “a family that prays together stays together.”
Her father, Pasco Edwards, was her protector during his lifetime, and Regina believes he continues to watch over her from the other side.
Regina’s Parents
In loving memory of Alberta Truss Merritt, her granddaughter Regina Edwards La Rue, the Legacy CEO, is now planning to open Alberta’s Kitchen in Kosciusko, Mississippi. This American takeout restaurant will also feature sit-in dining on weekends, open Saturday and Sunday.
Regina plans to honor local ministers by offering them free Sunday dinners. While guests will be charged for meals, ministers and their wives (First Ladies) will dine at no cost.
Alberta’s Kitchen will not be just another soul food restaurant. The menu will feature a variety of Southern and American favorites, including jambalaya, red beans and rice, pinto beans, pecan pie, bread pudding, sweet potatoes, and chicken and dumplings.
Regina is also in the process of acquiring property in Kosciusko, Mississippi, to establish the Alberta Truss Merritt Legacy in her grandmother’s hometown—where Alberta was born and laid to rest. As part of this vision, Regina plans to expand the building with a second floor dedicated to event space.
As both interior designer and CEO of Alberta’s Legacy, Regina La Rue is designing plans for a second-floor venue above Alberta’s Kitchen. This space will host birthday parties, concerts, weddings, baby showers, graduations, anniversaries, and other special events.
Above the second floor, a rooftop area will serve as a beautiful outdoor green space for weddings and celebrations under the name “Roof Top Events.”
Regina is excited and honored to serve as CEO of the Alberta Truss Merritt Legacy. She is committed to building a lasting tribute to her grandmother—fulfilling a dream that Alberta once had but was never able to realize during her lifetime in the early 1900s.
The Alberta Truss Merritt Legacy will be operated by Regina Edwards La Rue, along with other grandchildren and family members who will help run and manage Alberta’s Takeout Kitchen and Roof Top Events, ensuring that the legacy of love, family, and entrepreneurship continues for generations to come.
