With his family surrounding his bedside, Reverend Charles Richard Edwards entered heaven on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the age of 91.
Reverend Edwards was born on February 7, 1928 in Bentonville, Arkansas to Dixon and Essie Young Edwards.
The family requests visitation begin Wednesday, May 8, 2019 from 9:00 AM until 8:00 PM at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in the Richard Community.
Visitation will begin again on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 9:00 AM until time of the funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Orville Rogers will officiate.
Reverend Edwards served in the Navy during World War II. Upon returning home he accepted Christ as his Savior and was ordained into the ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention on September 27, 1950 at First Baptist Church in Bentonville.
He attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he met his future wife, Christine Campbell. They married on January 30, 1953. To This union four children were born including three daughters; Charlotte Thibodeaux of Perchville, Cheryl Turner (Timmy) of Richard, Connie Bertrand (Preston) of Eunice and a son, Danny Edwards (Bernadine) of Eunice. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.
Reverend Edwards was preceded in death by his parents; Dixon and Essie Young Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, his wife of 64 years; Christine Campbell Edwards of Perchville, two brothers; Benny Edwards and Earl “Jack” Edwards of Bentonville, Arkansas, three sisters; Jewell Spurlock of Bentonville, Arkansas, Merle “Tookie” Page of Paragould, Arkansas, Thelma “Happy” Reich of Linden, California, son-in-law Robert Thibodeaux and great grandson Job Zaunbrecher.
Reverend Edwards’ ministry spanned over 50 years. His first pastorates were First Baptist Church in Tom, Oklahoma, Lone Oak Baptist Church and Brownstone Baptist Church in DeQueen, Arkansas from 1950 to 1953. He led First Baptist Church in Dirks, Arkansas from 1953 to 1955, then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1957 he and Chris moved their family to First Baptist Church in Melville, Louisiana, where is served until 1962. At the end of 1962, he accepted the pastorate at First Baptist Church in Rayne, Louisiana and in 1965 moved to lead First Baptist Church in Raceland, Louisiana. 1968 brought the Edwards Family to Eunice, Louisiana where he assumed the pastorate at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
After serving until 1979, he and Chris moved to the community of Richard to serve the members of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church until 1984. ‘From 1984 to 1988 he pastured at Texas Avenue Baptist Church in DeRidder, Louisiana; then moved to Oberlin Baptist Church in Oberlin, Louisiana serving from 1988 to 1989.
The wonderful church family of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in the Richard Community called Reverend Edwards back to be their pastor in 1989 and he served there until 1999. Reverend Edwards retired in 1999 but served as interim Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Eunice until 2001 and Church Point Mission in Church Point until 2004.
Reverend Edwards loved living in South Louisiana among the Cajun people. One of his greatest desires was to learn to speak Cajun French. He loved the church members that he served and counted them as his “Louisiana Family”.
He and Chris had a heart for young people and served many summers at Acadia Baptist Center in Richard by operating the craft room during the summer months of camp.
He also served as a counselor and Bible teacher at Dry Creek Baptist Camp in Dry Creek, Louisiana during the week of camp for boys and teen boys. He also taught them to make “buddy burners” to cook on.
One of the highlights of Reverend Edwards’ pastorates was leading Vacation Bible School each summer. He loved seeing children learn about God, missionaries and make crafts. He was known for the shoe shine boxes that he helped the boys build..
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Racheal Frilot, Candy Mire and Lyndsey Mire for the wonderful care provided our dad during the past years. We love and appreciate your kindness and hard work. We also appreciate Heart of Hospice for their support.
Quirk and Son Funeral Home in Eunice is in charge of arrangements.
View and send online condolences at www.quirkfuneralhomne.com.