Reverend Ronald G. Edwards, 80, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord, following a long and courageous battle with bone marrow cancer, on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at the VA Medical Center Hospital. He was born in Carter County and was a son of the late Lee Nathaniel and Maudell Flanary Edwards. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, E. Lorraine Whitehead Edwards, whom he married on November 15, 1959, in Carter County; and two brothers, Herman Edwards and Robert Lee Edwards.
Reverend Edwards was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a member of Toe River Freewill Baptist Association and attended Keystone Freewill Baptist Church. He had been pastor of several churches in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. He loved his Lord, witnessing to others and worshiping with his church family and he had read his Bible through 13 times. His hobbies included working picture puzzles, gardening, fishing at the Outer Banks, doing church work, visiting with his friends and neighbors and of course reading his Bible. As well as being a pastor, over the years he was employed with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, ET & WNC Trucking and Rowe House Moving.
Those left to cherish his memory include three brothers, Earl Wayne Edwards, Thomas Harold Edwards and Horace Ted Edwards; a sister, Brenda Sue Beatty; and three sisters-in-law, Audene Edwards, Delores Bolling and Marsha Edwards. Several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Reverend Edwards will be conducted at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 8, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Reverend Tony Birchfield and Reverend Bill Greer officiating. Music will be under the direction of Keystone Freewill Baptist Church. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 9, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with Reverend Dexter Brumitt officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Active pallbearers will be selected from members of the Toe River Freewill Baptist Association. Honorary pallbearers will be his Keystone Freewill Baptist Church family, neighbors and friends. Those wishing to attend are invited to meet the family at the cemetery at 1:50 p.m. Sunday. We the family know that he is in Heaven and we wish to thank his friends for their prayers and words of encouragement. We also would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to the staff of the VA Hospice Wing for the love and care shown to Reverend Edwards and the family during his time there. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the FWB Family Ministries, 90 Stanley Lane, Greeneville, TN 37743. Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com
Reverend Edwards and his family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office: (423) 542-2232. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.