Clara Edwards

Clara Edwards (originally Bertha Edwards, Bertha Johnson and then Clara Johnson) is a fictional 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 only a few characters (the others being Andy Taylor, Aunt Bee, and Opie Taylor) 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..

Clara lives in the fictional community of Mayberry, North Carolina on "The Andy Griffith Show" (TAGS) and "Mayberry RFD". Clara's best friend is her past classmate Aunt Bee. The two women have a warm, yet competitive relationship, which began on a high school basketball team. The kinship would continue with such domestic contests as jarring pickles (TAGS, "The Pickle Story, Episode#31)", and planting prize roses (TAGS, "Only a Rose", Episode #212). In "The Pickle Story", TAGS, episode#31", Clara and Bee both compete for a blue ribbon at the county fair with their entries of pickles. Clara wins the ribbon.

Clara is a descendant of the town's 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. She occasionally looks after Sheriff Andy Taylor and son Opie, when their Aunt Bee is out of town.

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