James “Jimmy” Edwards

Published 5:05 pm Friday, March 12, 2021

James Roger “Jimmy” Edwards of Bath, age 80, died at home March 10, 2021. He was one of seven children born to Harley and Ruby Edwards. Sisters Frances Zacchio, Viola Lupton, Ellen Heck, and brother Bobby live locally, while brother Hilton and sister Sylvia Hawkinson passed away before him. 

Jimmy graduated Bath High School in 1959 and received both Bachelors and Masters degrees from ECU. In 1977, he founded Charcoal Service Corporation in Bath. He was active in the Department of Energy Airborne Waste Management and Air Cleaning Conferences and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In his later life, Jimmy played Johnny Appleseed and Ben Franklin for elementary school classes and Bathfest. He was a prior President of the Bath High School Preservation Society. 

He and first wife Judy Edwards have two children, Marci Edwards and husband Larry Vrooman with their son Jameson Edwards of Winterville, and Jay Edwards and wife Anna of Washington. Jimmy and his second wife Polly Edwards, who predeceased him, have a daughter Mandi Edwards in Ohio. Third wife Melba Tuten Edwards also passed on before him. He loved being a bonus Granddaddy to her children and grandchildren. 

Jimmy enjoyed golf, cooking for his Washington Country Club friends, reading and writing, and being the life of all parties. For many years he was involved in Bath Christian Church. He played guitar and banjo badly and with gusto. From Jimmy, his children learned a third to a half of the lyrics of hundreds of folk songs, to walk barefoot in the woods, unafraid and purple with blueberries, and to enjoy the company of others. 

Family will receive visitors at his home at 4692 Hwy 92 E., Bath on Sunday, March 14 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., floating. Please wear your mask. Memorial services to be announced later, hopefully this summer, at Bath Christian Church with dinner in the Fellowship Hall. Joseph B. Paul, Jr. & Washington Funeral and Cremation will serve the family. Instead of flowers, please sing a rousing chorus of “Rock Island Line” and/or donate to Bath High School Preservation at PO Box 149, Bath, NC, 27808 or bhspreservation.org.