James Edwards

Rev. James Carl Edwards, 82, of Brandon, Mississippi, went home to be with Jesus on November 25, 2020, surrounded by his family. Visitation is 10 am Monday, November 30, 2020 at Park Place Baptist Church. Services are 11:30 am Monday at the church with burial in Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl. Dr. Keith Grubbs will officiate.

James Carl Edwards was born on March 23, 1938, in Mendenhall, Mississippi to J.C. Edwards and Velma Layton Edwards. He graduated from Mendenhall High School.  He was married to Gwendolyn McWilliams Edwards of Magee, Mississippi for 63 years.

He served in the National Guard as a Military Policeman. In 1970, he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by First Baptist Church of Pearl. He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1973.

For 25 years he served numerous churches in Central Mississippi including Sharon Baptist, New Home Baptist and Bethlehem Baptist churches in Scott County, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Mendenhall, Mississippi, Parkhill Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, White Oak Baptist Church in White Oak, Mississippi, and Lake Harbor Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi. After retiring, he served as senior adult pastor at Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl, Mississippi.

Besides his love for preaching and sharing the gospel, he loved spending time with his grandchildren.  He liked to take them fishing, he would come to watch them play soccer, softball, dance recitals, or whatever they were participating in.  He loved to have them come to his home at Christmas to make candy and fruit cake, and always read the Christmas story with them before they would open Christmas presents.  One of his greatest joys was being able to baptize all of his grandchildren.  He was deeply loved by his wife and family and will be greatly missed.

James was preceded in death by his father and mother and his older sister, Carol Edwards Brock.  He is survived by his wife, Gwen McWilliams Edwards, two daughters, Cindy Edwards McLemore, and Denise Edwards McNemar, son-in-law, David McNemar, four grandchildren, Lauren McLemore Copelan, (Jamie Copelan) Brandon McLemore, Grayson McLemore, and Emily McNemar, two great-grandchildren, Jacob Copelan (Gracie Copelan) and Josslyn Copelan, and one great-great-grandchild, Kovur Copelan.  He is also survived by his sister, Doris Edwards Kirby, and brother-in-law, George Kirby.  He was a respected uncle to many nieces and nephews.

All who knew him will remember that he loved people, he loved a good joke and was always ready to help you in any way possible.

Memorials may be made to Park Place Baptist Church Senior Adult Ministry.