RALEIGH - Melvin Douglas Edwards went to be with his Lord on November 22, 2011. He was born on October 27, 1933 in Franklin County, NC to Nathan Melvin Edwards and Alethea Cheaves Edwards. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley Capps Edwards; his daughter, Gretchen Lee Sutton and husband, Tim, and grandson Kaiden Douglas Sutton. He was preceded in death by his son, Douglas Keith Edwards. He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Bobbie Wrenn of Louisburg, NC, Mrs. Kay Hickox of Virginia Beach, VA and Mrs. Sandra Fleming of Louisburg, NC. He was blessed with a large number of nieces and nephews.
Mr. Edwards was a graduate of Bunn High School, Louisburg College and North Carolina State University. He was a veteran of the U. S. Army with time served as a map editor in the Army Map Service at the Presidio of San Francisco, CA and Schwetzingen, Germany. Sgt. Edwards served 6 years in the U. S. Army Reserve after his active duty service.
He was a retired Hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey of the U. S. Department of the Interior where he specialized in information technology. He was a registered professional hydrologist and an emeritus member of the American Institute of Hydrology. Subsequently, he served as a system analyst with Metaphor Computer Systems of Mountain View, CA, a system analyst with the Burroughs Wellcome Company, Raleigh, NC and is a retiree of Glaxo, Raleigh, NC. After retirement, he continued to serve as a private consultant for system design and software development for several companies. From 2002 until 2008, Mr. Edwards and his wife owned and operated Family Memories, a company for restoring old photographs. They were also specialists in working with digital art and operated a successful printing service.
Mr. Edwards was honored with the U. S. Department of Interior’s Meritorious Service Award in 1987. He was active in Louisburg College Alumni activities and was honored with their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.
Mr. Edwards was a long-term member of Samaria Baptist Church where he served as a life Deacon.
In lieu of flowers, gifts will be accepted for the Louisburg College Annual Fund, 501 N. Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549; the Samaria Baptist Church Endowment Fund, 3621 Poole Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610; or the General Fund, Rock Spring Baptist Church, 34 Rock Spring Rd, Louisburg, NC.
Funeral services were in the sanctuary of Samaria Baptist Church, 3621 Poole Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011.
The family received relatives and friends prior to the service from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011 at Samaria Baptist Church.
Graveside services were at Rock Spring Baptist Church Cemetery, 34 Rock Spring Church Rd, Louisburg, NC 27549 at 3:30 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.poolefuneral.com under obituaries.
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