Clara Edwards
Encyclopedia
Clara Edwards is a fiction
al character on the American
television
sitcom
The Andy Griffith Show
(1960 – 1968). Clara was portrayed by actress Hope Summers
.
Summers appeared as Bertha/Clara in 32 episodes of TAGS
and was one of a very few recurring characters who appeared in all eight seasons of the show's run. The character migrated to the show's spin-off
series Mayberry R.F.D.
.
. She is a descendant of the earliest settlers, and a widow. (However, in Episode 14 of Season 6, she pointedly tells the guest character, Harlan Robinson, played by Woody Chambliss, that she is not "Mrs." but "Miss" Edwards.) She has a brother (who never appears on the show), and an adult nephew Ferdie, who makes one appearance. She also has a son, Gale, who never appears on the show.
Clara's best friend on the series is Aunt Bee
. The two women gossip, shop, and compete with each another. In "The Pickle Story," for example, Clara and Aunt Bee both compete for a blue ribbon at the county fair with their quarts of pickles. Clara wins the ribbon. Clara occasionally looks after Bee's nephew Sheriff Andy Taylor
and his son Opie
when Bee journeys out of town.
Clara positions herself as Bee's rival for the attentions of single gentlemen passing through town. One of the most memorable gentlemen is Hubert St. John, a visiting lecturer who takes a fancy to Aunt Bee because she reminds him of his deceased wife. When Aunt Bee dismisses him as a romantic interest, Clara is at hand to console him.
Clara holds the honor of winning the blue ribbon for the best pickles at the Mayberry county fair 12 years running and also wins first place in the Mayberry flower show. She is the organist
at All Souls Church and composes an anthem, along with Aunt Bee, celebrating the good life in Mayberry ("My Home Town"). She joins Opie's rock group as pianist and manager and performs the role of Lady Mayberry in the town pageant
to great acclaim from her fellow Mayberryites. She takes a pleasure trip to Mexico
with Aunt Bee and their mutual friend Myrtle.
In the first season, Summers's character appeared twice as "Bertha Johnson." In the second season she became "Clara Johnson" and remained so until the fifth season episode "The Pageant," when she became "Clara Edwards." She remained Clara Edwards until the end of the series' run. In spite of the name changes, the character remained the same.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al character on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
(1960 – 1968). Clara was portrayed by actress Hope Summers
Hope Summers
Hope Summers was an American character actress known for her work on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD, portraying Clara Edwards.-Career:...
.
Summers appeared as Bertha/Clara in 32 episodes of TAGS
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
and was one of a very few recurring characters who appeared in all eight seasons of the show's run. The character migrated to the show's spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
series Mayberry R.F.D.
Mayberry R.F.D.
Mayberry R.F.D. is a spin-off and direct continuation of The Andy Griffith Show under a new title, for the same sponsor, General Foods...
.
Overview
Clara lives in the fictional community of Mayberry, North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. She is a descendant of the earliest settlers, and a widow. (However, in Episode 14 of Season 6, she pointedly tells the guest character, Harlan Robinson, played by Woody Chambliss, that she is not "Mrs." but "Miss" Edwards.) She has a brother (who never appears on the show), and an adult nephew Ferdie, who makes one appearance. She also has a son, Gale, who never appears on the show.
Clara's best friend on the series is Aunt Bee
Aunt Bee
Beatrice Taylor is a fictional character from the 1960s American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. The show was televised on CBS from October 3, 1960, until April 1, 1968...
. The two women gossip, shop, and compete with each another. In "The Pickle Story," for example, Clara and Aunt Bee both compete for a blue ribbon at the county fair with their quarts of pickles. Clara wins the ribbon. Clara occasionally looks after Bee's nephew Sheriff Andy Taylor
Sheriff Andy Taylor
Sheriff Andrew "Andy" Jackson Taylor is the principal character on The Andy Griffith Show, an American sitcom which aired on CBS, . The character made a few appearances in the show's spinoff Mayberry R.F.D. and appeared in a reunion telemovie Return to Mayberry...
and his son Opie
Opie Taylor
Opie Taylor is a fictional character in the American television program, The Andy Griffith Show which was televised on CBS from October 3, 1960 to April 1, 1968...
when Bee journeys out of town.
Clara positions herself as Bee's rival for the attentions of single gentlemen passing through town. One of the most memorable gentlemen is Hubert St. John, a visiting lecturer who takes a fancy to Aunt Bee because she reminds him of his deceased wife. When Aunt Bee dismisses him as a romantic interest, Clara is at hand to console him.
Clara holds the honor of winning the blue ribbon for the best pickles at the Mayberry county fair 12 years running and also wins first place in the Mayberry flower show. She is the organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
at All Souls Church and composes an anthem, along with Aunt Bee, celebrating the good life in Mayberry ("My Home Town"). She joins Opie's rock group as pianist and manager and performs the role of Lady Mayberry in the town pageant
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
to great acclaim from her fellow Mayberryites. She takes a pleasure trip to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
with Aunt Bee and their mutual friend Myrtle.
In the first season, Summers's character appeared twice as "Bertha Johnson." In the second season she became "Clara Johnson" and remained so until the fifth season episode "The Pageant," when she became "Clara Edwards." She remained Clara Edwards until the end of the series' run. In spite of the name changes, the character remained the same.