Edwards was born in Marksville, the seat of Avoyelles Parish, to Errol Leo Schwartzenburg and Myrl Dupuy Schwartzenburg Elaine was baptized Catholic, and had two brothers, Frank, and Ralph. She married Edwin Edwards in 1949. Her own Catholic belief was the impetus for Edwin's reversion to the Catholic faith. An observer noted that Elaine Edwards "wanted the opposite of what Edwin wanted. She hated the fishbowl of politics." Both graduated from Marksville High School. Discussing her marriage in 1984, Edwards said: "All I wanted to do was get married and have babies and keep house."
Senate career
Prior to her senate career, Edwards was the First Lady of Louisiana for twelve non-consecutive years from 1972 to 1980 and again from 1984 to 1988, making her the state's longest-serving First Lady. She did not live full-time at the Governor's mansion during her husband's third term, instead spending most of her time at the family's compound in southeastern Baton Rouge which they purchased during the term of Edwin's successor/predecessor, David C. Treen. On August 1, 1972, after the death of Allen Ellender, Edwin Edwards appointed Elaine to the U.S. Senate to serve the remaining few months of Ellender's term. In reaction to her Senate appointment, Edwards said: "This is a marvelous opportunity, and I accept it. But let's have no misgivings. I’m not a United States senator". Edwards did not seek re-election. She resigned immediately upon certification of J. Bennett Johnston as the winner of the November 7, 1972general election, allowing Johnston to gain seniority over other new senators elected on the same date. During the 1976 presidential election campaign, Elaine endorsed Gerald Ford over Jimmy Carter, while her husband first endorsed California governor Jerry Brown, and later endorsed Carter after Brown failed to obtain the nomination. In 1983, Edwin Edwards was re-elected as Governor thus making Elaine first lady again this time serving until 1988.
Post-political career
After her senate tenure, Edwards owned a small business producing custom-made dresses and would continue this business even while serving as first lady during her husband’s third term in the 1980s. She moved to New York City in the 1990s to find occasional work as a soap opera actress.
Edwin and Elaine Edwards divorced in 1989 after forty years of marriage. The couple had four children, two daughters and two sons. Elaine Edwards died on May 14, 2018, at her daughter's home in Denham Springs, Louisiana, while suffering from respiratory problems. Edwards was buried at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.
