Elwood Edwards, Jr.

December 10, 1943 - September 15, 2011
Elwood Edwards, Jr.

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Elwood “Ed” Edwards, Jr. of Leland passed away Thursday, September 15, 2011, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.

He leaves many loved ones, both friends and family. His wife of 42 years, Sylvia Stefano Edwards lives in Leland. His son, Anthony “Tony” Elwood Edwards, lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with his wife, Nicole Edwards, and their children, Dominic and Gabriella Isabella, who were the pride of Ed’s life. His mother, Kathleen Dove Edwards (the widow of Elwood Edwards, Sr.), lives at the Poplar Heights Nursing Center in Elizabethtown, NC. His sister, Stella Batten, and her husband, Murray, live in Bladenboro, NC. Ed’s other relatives and friends are scattered all over the country and were a source of much blessing to him and Sylvia.

He was born in Bladen County, where he went through high school. He served in the U.S. Navy for 4 years. He worked as an Industrial Mechanic for the DuPont Cape Fear plant for 30 years. It was the place he met his wife, Sylvia, and where he made many lifelong friends. After he retired in 2000, Ed continued to be very active in his church, Goshen Baptist. He served his Lord as church Treasurer, as Deacon, as Sunday School teacher, as a member of the Brotherhood mission organization, and as a member of various committees and teams. Ed was the hands and feet of Christ: he used his beautiful tenor voice in the church choir; he used his hands and his experience in maintaining the church buildings and grounds; he expressed his love for children in the church’s van ministry and as a teacher in the Preschool department. He was a good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.

He also spent much of his “retirement” at the Riegelwood Golf Course, where he was a part-time employee. He played many rounds of golf with dozens of friends he made there. Those relationships were special to him.

The chief joy of Ed’s life was the companionship of his wife, Sylvia. They were committed to each other, the best of friends who finished each other’s sentences and shared each other’s values and sentiments. Theirs was a marriage made in Heaven.

Ed’s proudest accomplishment was being Tony’s father. His son followed in Ed’s footsteps as he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, served in the U.S. Navy, and became a loving father to Ed’s grandchildren. Tony’s marriage to Nicole, a wise and supportive wife, gave Ed great pleasure.

Ed’s family and friends will say, “Goodbye,” on Saturday, September 17, 2011, at Goshen Baptist Church, 4124 Mt. Misery Rd. NE, Leland, NC. (Directions can be found at goshenbc.org.) Visitation will be at 11:00a.m. and a memorial service at 12:00noon. Lunch will be served in the church Fellowship Hall following the service.

Sylvia and Tony thank all their loved ones for their support and express their gratitude to all those medical professionals whose treatment of Ed made his life better. To God be the glory of the life of one of His children, Elwood Edwards, Jr.

Please share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Sign Guest Book” tab above.

Wilmington Funeral and Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington,NC 28403 910.791.9099


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