Donald Ray "Billy" Edwards

WADESBORO - On Saturday, December 17, 2022, Mr. Donald Ray "Billy" Edwards, 74, passed away peacefully at Atrium Health Union in Monroe.

There will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM Monday, December 26, 2022, at Eastview Cemetery, Wadesboro with Rev. Jimmy Furr officiating.

Billy was born April 5, 1948, in Anson County, NC, and was a son of the late Earl Allen Edwards and the late Charlie Belle Mills Edwards. He was a graduate of Wadesboro High School, Class of 1966. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served during the Vietnam War. He attended Hanna Chapel United Methodist Church.

After returning home from Vietnam, Billy worked with his father in the heating, cooling, and plumbing business. Following his father's retirement, he worked with Anson County as a building inspector and later retired from Union County as the Commercial Inspector.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, Dianne Harrington Edwards; his son, Donnie Edwards and wife, Tammy of Wadesboro; his grandchildren, Adam Edwards, Trey Nichols, and Tyler Nichols all of Wadesboro and Courtney Fox and husband, Daniel of Florence, SC; his brother, Earl Edwards, Jr. of Wadesboro; his brother-in-law, Leon Legrand of Rose Hill; his nephews, Mike Edwards of Lilesville and Mitch Edwards of Black Mountain; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Cathy Cate and husband, Ron of Wadesboro, Freddie Harrington and wife, Debbie and Michael Harrington and wife, Pat all of Polkton and Elaine Bunn and husband, Billy of Marshville and a very special family friend, Haywood Lee of Mint Hill.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Margaret Legrand and Edna Ponds, and husband, Vance, and by his lifelong friends, Frankie Cranford and Ab Carter, Jr.

Billy enjoyed being outdoors. He took great pride in his yard work, planting and growing flowers. He kept the yard up at Hanna Chapel Church for many years and kept his family's cemetery plot well-manicured too. He also enjoyed meeting with his friends every morning at Whit's Convenience Store in Wadesboro for coffee and sharing the news.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hanna Chapel United Methodist Church, c/0, Jimmy Hanna, 126 Lennox Dr., Wadesboro, NC 28170, or to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com