The Rev. C.W. Edwards Jr. was remembered last week as a humble man who achieved great things through his public service and successful ministry as an Augusta Methodist pastor for more than half a century.
"I've been told he brought more people to Jesus than any man in Augusta," the Rev. Dane Wagner told a funeral audience Saturday at St. Mark United Methodist Church. "I don't know if that's true, but the man has certainly helped to fill up the kingdom of heaven."
But Edwards, who died Tuesday at age 86, also served in other ways.
He was a charter member and chairman of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority, respected by reporters for his honesty and by fellow board members for his business acumen.
He was also a charter member of the Augusta-Richmond County Visitors and Convention Bureau, a former member of the Salvation Army advisory board, a past president and chaplain of the Augusta Lions Club, a trustee of the United Methodist Children's Home, and many other groups, organizations and associations.
"He was a special friend," said former Augusta Mayor Larry Sconyers. "A great man. A true man of God. And we know where he is today."
A native of McDuffie County, Edwards grew up in Augusta during the Depression. When World War II broke out, he got work at the Augusta Arsenal, then joined the Army as a teenager. He took part in the Normandy invasion, hitting the beach the day after D-Day.
That image of war left its mark.
"He told us once no movie, no picture, no history book can describe what that beach was like the day after we landed," friend Ron Piper recalled.
He was awarded a Bronze Star and the French Croix de Guerre for his actions.
He returned home after the war and entered the auto upholstery business with his family, but he eventually accepted a call to the ministry, a service that continued well past the next 50 years.
His record of service with area churches was extensive. He served as pastor of the Grovetown Methodist charge, composed of Grovetown, Philadelphia, Lewis Memorial and Riverview United Methodist churches; and was also pastor of Cokesbury and Mize Memorial.
He retired in 1987 but still served at St. Mark, where he also taught a Sunday school class.
"He might have retired ... but he did not quit doing weddings and funerals and listening to the brokenhearted," said the Rev. Ed Nelson, a longtime friend.
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