James Ralph Edwards, Sr

James Ralph Edwards was born on October 27, 1928 to George & Eula Edwards in Old Hickory, Tennessee. He went to be with the Lord on September 26, 2015. Service: 11:00 A.M. Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church. Interment: New Hope Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 P.M. Friday at White's Azle Funeral Home. Raised in a devout Christian family, young Jimmy felt God's call on his life to preach, and by the time he was 17 years old, he began preaching in many youth revivals. He moved with his family from Goodlettsville, TN. in the middle of his junior year in high school to Tullahoma, TN., and was so well-liked that the new campus elected him as the president of the senior class. After graduating high school, Jimmy started attending Carson Newman College in Tennessee and pastoring the Forrest Hill Church in Newport, TN. He then moved to Texas and began attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. While doing additional graduate work at Baylor University and pastoring the Plum Grove Baptist Church in Markeley, Texas, he married Anita Maddin on September 5, 1953. Jimmy and Nita were able to celebrate 62 years of marriage this year. Bro. Edwards pastored the First Baptist Church of Swan, TX,the First Baptist Church of Tenaha, TX, First Baptist Church of Atlanta, TX, Parkview Baptist Church in Monroe, LA., First Baptist Church of Port Arthur, TX, and First Baptist Church of Webb, TX. Building new facilities to accommodate growing churches became a continuing hallmark to each of his pastorates. Bro. Edwards pastored churches for 40 years, and preached revivals all over Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and several other states. In 1987, he and Nita retired in Grand Prairie, Texas to be close with their children and grandchildren. A devoted husband, father, pastor, and friend, James R Edwards is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Elroy Edwards; sister, Sarah Edwards and her husband Bill; life-long friends, J. Lloyd and Mildred Woods who were part of the Edwards' family for over 50 years. He is survived by wife of 62 years, Anita Edwards; sons, James R Edwards, Jr. and wife, Gail of Azle, David Cole Edwards and wife, Sandra, of Richardson, Billy Don Edwards and wife, Becky, of Richardson; daughter, Linda Carol Lilley and husband, Gerald, of Point; sister, Ella Dean Bratcher of Murfreesboro, TN.; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.