Date of birth: 04 May 1940
Date of death: 31 Mar 2014

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Burial Information

Section 01 (Click Here for Section Map)
Cemetery: Odd Fellows Cemetery
Plot: 0926-02
Status: Occupied

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Veteran Information

Branch: US NAVY
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
War/Campaign: VIETNAM
Military Notes: Retired at age 40.

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Notes

Obituary
Dan Edwards

Jesse Daniel "Dan" Edwards, 73, died March 31, 2014, at his home in the Acona community near Lexington, MS.

Mr. Edwards was born on May 4, 1940 in Brandon, MS, grew up in Madison County and later moved to Lexington after a long distinguished career in the Navy, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander at age 40. He married Maria Mendes Edwards in 1970, and after his retirement in 1980, he moved with his wife and three children to Lexington to start a farming operation which included a nursery, horses, cattle, and orchards.

He was known as "Coach Edwards" to countless area residents as a result of his coaching and teaching career from 1989 until 1993 at Carroll Academy, Central Holmes Academy and Benton Academy. He joined Holmes Community College in 1993 and worked there until his retirement in 2012. He started the women's softball program at Holmes in 1994 and remained the coach of the program until 2005. He touched and worked tirelessly to better the lives everyone he met in his roles as a brother, husband, father, coach and teacher.

He attended Farm Haven and Canton High School. He completed his high school requirements in the Navy and attended United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. Following several tours of duty including service in Vietnam, he earned a degree in engineering from the University of Colorado. Later, he earned a Masters Degree in history and completed additional graduate studies in political science at Mississippi State. He also earned an Associate's Degree from Holmes Community College where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. He had a strong interest in history and political science. He authored two books and wrote nearly every day until his health failed. He was an excellent cook, and a member of the Lexington Historic Foundation, Lexington Masonic Lodge and the St. Thomas Catholic Church. Mr. Edwards was a man of deep faith and strong convictions. He believed deeply in the principles of this country's founding fathers and served his country, community and family faithfully. He will be missed dearly by the many who loved him.

Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse P. Edwards and Emily Hawkins Edwards, his sister, June Edwards Anton and his granddaughter, Emily Marie Jones. He is survived by his wife, Maria Edwards; children, Vince (Tauna) Edwards of Severance, CO, Sheila Leonard of Estes Park, CO, Linda George of Lexington, MS, Chuck (Nikki) Edwards of Lexington, MS, Candice (Jason) Parish of Humble, TX, and Bethy (Walker) Jones of Towson, MD; brothers, Don (Diane) Edwards of Camden, MS and Wayne (Kathy) Edwards of Nashville, TN; and sister, Dayne O'Neil of Denton, TX. Mr. Edwards is also survived by eleven grandchildren including Michael George, Allen "Dustin" Edwards, Tanner Leonard, Sam Leonard, Gibson Parish, Cayton Edwards, Lilly Jones, Daynie Parish, William Jones, Coulson Jones, and Denson Edwards and one great grandchild, Elias Edwards.

Visitation will be held on April 4, 2014, at the Southern Funeral Home at 100 Pine St, Lexington from 5:00-8:00 P.M. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 5, 2014, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 200 Boulevard Street, Lexington, MS. The burial will follow at the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Lexington, MS.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be sent to: St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 200 Boulevard Street, Lexington, MS 39095.

The Clarion-Ledger

Military Notes
His obituary states he served in the US Navy with a tour in Vietnam.

More information, family relationships, and images may be found by CLICKING HERE (external link)

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