EDWARDS, Cecil

West Valley View June 7, 2000 Cecil Edwards, 72, past member of the Elder's Council and pastor of Bethesda Church of God in Christ in Avondale, died May 14, 2000. He was born in St. Elizbeth, Jamaica on March 3, 1928, and completed a formal education there. On a visit to Belez, British Honduras in 1955 he met Gloria, and they married a year later. He was called to the ministry in Belez and organized three churches and became the father of three children. In 1961, the Edwardses moved to Los Angeles, where they joined the Community Church of God in Christ. Edwards served as assistant pastor for seven years, then was pastor of the church for 17 years. During this time he was appointed as chaplain to the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1997, Edwards and his family moved to Arizona, where he started a mission in Chandler. The following year he became pastor of the Bethesda Church of God in Christ, in Avondale. There he began a beautification and expansion of the church, adding 2,100 square feet to the existing building. In 1988, he became Avondale's first police chaplain. Edwards served under three chiefs of police and was a member of the International Association of Police Chaplains. He served with the Southwest Black History Committee; originated the Seventh Street Council; was on the Arizona Executive Council; was assistant superintendent of Emmanuel District; and was a past member of the Elder's Council. Edwards is survived by wife, Gloria; daughters, Carlee, Paulette, Ruth Naylor and Patricia Foreman; sons, Albert, David and Neman; sisters, Blossom, Mariam and Relda Leidlar; brothers, Esmine and Cecil; two daughters-in-law; three sons-in-law; a host of nieces and nephews; 25 grandchildren; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Church of God in Christ Headquarters in Phoenix. Burial was in Resthaven Park in Glendale. Greer Wilson Funeral Home.