James M. Edwards

Mr. James M. Edwards, age 67, passed away on Monday, January 16, 2017. Mr. Edwards was a longtime resident of the coast. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a Vietnam Veteran. He was an avid backpacker and outdoorsman. He spent his summers at Yellowstone National Park as a Security Guard. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Journalism at USM and was a news reporter for several news agencies along the coast, as well as a freelance reporter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Roy Edwards. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Retha Ann Cook Edwards, son, James McKinley (Mary Ann) Edwards, daughter, Melissa Ann (Chris) Andrews, brothers, Roy L. (Zoila) Edwards Jr. and Ralph Edwards, sister, Susan Creel, nine grandchildren, James, McKinley, Dakota, Parker, Preston, Anthony, Andrew, Jordan and Jeremy. Visitation will be on Friday, January 20, from 6pm until 8pm, with an 8 pm chapel service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date in Biloxi National Cemetery, with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715.