“John Edwards is the sole surviving parent of the two younger children and he was the one with the money, not Elizabeth.”
She at least made a statement, and the children can have her personal things. But I’d hope that, as half of a very affluent couple, she also had her own bank account(s) and investments (legally protected from John, to pass to her kids), particularly knowing she wouldn’t likely have an indefinite amount of time left to live.
I don’t know the law in NC, but in most states you cannot disinherit your spouse. If she had wanted to do that, she could have asked for an quick divorce decree.
Plus community property rights if they exist in their State... her share will go to the children. Doesn’t matter if he earned the money... she was entitled to her share from the marriage and she can bequeath that.