Calton J. Edwards, age 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep at The Meridian of Westwood Rehabilitation in Fort Walton Beach on Monday, May 27, 2019. He was a victim of neuropathy and had gradually declined over the past two years, but thankfully remained physically active until the last three weeks of his life.
Mr. Edwards was a long-time resident of Leland, Mississippi, having lived there fifty years. He was born in Chester, Mississippi, on June 18, 1927, as the youngest son of Calton J. Edwards and Stella Gatlin Edwards. Mr. Edwards joined the U. S. Navy after high school and served his country for four years during World War II. Mr. Edwards returned home and started college at Mississippi State University with his first wife, Dorothy Anderson Edwards, with two young daughters. They both completed their education. Mr. Edwards then embarked on a 40-year career where he was an Agronomist at the USDA in Stoneville, Mississippi. He retired on December 31, 1989.
On December 1, 2009, Mr. Edwards and his second wife, Jean Thompson Edwards, moved from Leland, Mississippi, to Destin, Florida. All who knew Mr. Edwards knew him to be a compassionate, caring and loving person who never complained. Mr. Edwards was a member of the First Baptist Church, Destin, Florida.
Preceding Mr. Edwards in death were his parents, Calton J. Edwards and Stella Gatlin Edwards, a brother, Ed Edwards of Houston, Texas, two sisters, Rusty Jones of New Albany, Mississippi, and Sammie Faye Edwards of Clinton, Mississippi, his first wife, Dorothy Anderson Edwards.
Surviving Mr. Edwards are his wife, Jean Thompson Edwards, Destin, Florida, his daughters, Rima (Tommie) Edwards, Greenwood, Mississippi, and Tina Shaw Edwards, Madison, Mississippi, granddaughter, Ryan (Jay) Henderson, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, grandson, Tommie (Heather) Williams, Jr., Greenwood, Mississippi, grandson, Sherard (Jennifer) Shaw, III, granddaughters, Blair Shaw (Harley) Matthews, Madison, Mississippi, Heather Shaw (Rhett) Young, Madison, Mississippi, and seven great grandchildren. Also, surviving Mr. Edwards are his stepdaughter, Robbin (Shuler) Griffin, Oxford, Mississippi, stepson Bob Reed, Memphis, Tennessee, step-grandson, Brent Morgan, Oxford, Mississippi, step-granddaughters, Micah Morgan, Grenada, Mississippi, Bailey Kaye Reed, Memphis, Tennessee, and step-grandson, Garrett Reed, Memphis, Tennessee.
There will be a visitation at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at First Baptist Church, Leland, Mississippi with a Celebration of Life service to begin at 11:00 a.m., with Boone Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. A private graveside service will follow.