Jim Edwards

Published 5:00 am Friday, January 16, 2015

    Services for Jim Edwards will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home chapel, with Rev. George Pugh officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in Kewanee, with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Edwards, 84, of Meridian, passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, at his redidence.

    Jim was a veteran of the US Marine Corps. He was a retired Assistant Chief of the Meridian Police Department, where he served his community for 24 years. He was also a graduate of the FBI Academy. Jim served Lauderdale County as coroner and constable, and for 24 years, was a Justice Court Judge. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest serving law enforcement officer in the state of Mississippi history. Jim was invited to speak at the symposium on Judicial Philosophy at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Mass. During his career, he was attached as security for Adlai Stevenson, UN Ambassador during the Kennedy Administration, as well as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Hubert Humphrey. He was also an honorary pallbearer for G.V. Sonny Montgomery. Jim was a lover of outdoors and animals in need of rescue.

    Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Evelyn Edwards; son, James Edwards Jr. and his wife, Rachel, of Seminary; daughters, Vivianne Davis and her husband, Dale, of Coco, Fla., Karen Jara of Las Vegas, Nev., and Kerry Brown of Meridian; grandchildren, Nicholas Jara of Las Vegas, Nev., Christopher Jara of San Mateo, Calif., Dustin Davis and his wife, Courtney, of Coco, Fla., Robert Brown of Meridian, MS, Katie Edwards of Tylertown, MS, Hannah Davis and Sarah Davis, both of Coco, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Daniel Davis of Coco, Fla.; sisters, Ann Thrasher and Mary Nell Morgan, both of Meridian; brother, Roger Edwards and his wife, Jerri, of Meridian; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Annie Edwards and a brother, Bonner Edwards.

    The family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 196 Charmant Place, Ridgeland, MS  39157.

    Pallbearers will be Judge Ricky Roberts, Assistant Chief of Police Buck Roberts, Waylon Temple, Rush Edwards, Eddie Fuller, and Cody Fuller. Honorary pallbearers will be Phil Lee, Owen Jones, and Harold Combs.

    Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

    Visitation will be held Saturday, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.