Funeral services for Willie Joe Edwards, Sr., 79, of Leesville, will be
held at 11 a.m. Oct. 15, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Leesville with Rev. Joseph Garner officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Leesville under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home of Leesville.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the funeral home.
Willie Joe Edwards was the eighth child born on Feb. 29, 1932, to George Edwards, Sr. and Lillian Edwards. Mr. Edwards passed away on Oct. 9, 2011, in Jena. In October
1952, he answered the call to serve his country in the Korean War. After returning to the United States he graduated from Vernon Training School in 1955. On Sept. 5, 1955, he married his high school sweetheart Loretta Dean. He was last employed with
the Vernon Parish School Board office where he was loved and adored by all and highly admired for his exceptional work and sense of humor.
His father George Edwards, Sr.; his mother, Lillian Scott Edwards; six brothers and three sisters
preceded Willie in death.
He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 56 years, Loretta Edwards; five children, Deborah A. Edwards, Jacqueline (Kevin) Langston, Willie J. Edwards, Jr., Derrick J. Edwards, Sr., and Letitia (Johnny)
McKenzie; two sisters: Jennie (Wayne) Mines of Baltimore and Betty Rose Jenkins of Atlanta; one brother-in-law: Robert Dean of Leesville; two sister-in laws, Thelma Edwards of Houston and Mattie Dean of DeRidder; ten grandchildren, Kevin Langston,
Jr., Darrius Langston, Fanta Langston, Shanari Burns, Morgan Edwards, Evelyn Edwards, Derrick Edwards, Jr., Eden Edwards, Aaliyah Edwards and Alexis McKenzie; five great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Edwards family at www.labbymemorial.com