James Edwards

YOUNGSVILLE, N.C. -- James Allen Edwards, 65, of Youngsville passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James H. Edwards and Frances L. Ruff, and his first wife, Bonnie L. Edwards.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Because of COVID restrictions, attendance will be via YouTube. Please contact St. John's Episcopal Church at (919) 556-3656 for more information. The interment will be at 10::45 a.m. April 24 in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Born in Southern California, Jim began his onstage performance career at age 6.

Upon earning bachelor's and master's degrees from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, he began his teaching career in 1977. He taught marching band, where he built competitive programs in Bell Gardens, California. Upon moving his family to Missouri, he earned a Specialist in Education Degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

Jim was both the performer and educator. He continued to grow high school band and music programs while he spent several years playing with a great local cover band.

After moving to Virginia, he did freelance work subbing in orchestras and recording with local song writers, mostly as a vocalist. He joined the major classical ensemble, The Washington Chorus. The next eight years were spent performing at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, The Strathmore and Carnegie Hall, with the Washington Philharmonic and Baltimore symphonies, including a Christmas performance for the Obamas at the White House. While a member of The Washington Chorus, he taught in D.C. public schools, this time creating two middle school bands, orchestra and jazz programs. Jim earned the 2016 Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching from the D.C. Public Schools.

After 45 years of teaching and performance, Jim retired and moved to North Carolina in 2020 with his wife, Edith.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Bergay-Edwards of Youngsville; daughter, Patricia Edwards-Keys and husband, William J. Keys, and grandchildren, Chloe and Dylanjer, all of Jackson; daughter, Susanna Edwards of Portland, Oregon, and daughter, Renee Reopell of New York City.

In lieu of flowers, please consider financial contributions in memory of Jim Edwards to the USC Trojan Marching Band Endowed Scholarship at www.giveto.usc.edu/?fundid=9819717000,9819717000&appealcode=undefined&buttongen=1&hidetop=1 or to Cancer Blows at www.cancerblows.com.

Cancer Blows raises awareness and money to encourage research for cancers with a focus on blood cancers and multiple myeloma.

Bright Funeral Home in Wake Forest is serving the Edwards family.