- Date Of Birth: May 21, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 23, 2022
- State: Indiana
Joseph Lorenzo Dawson Edwards was born on May 21, 1933, in Elkton, KY to the late Rev. Clark Edwards, Jr and to the late Ruth Stuart Edwards. In the summer of 1939, his father packed up the family and moved to Terre Haute, IN. Joseph attended and graduated from Gurtsmeyer Technical High School.
Joseph was drafted into the US Army in 1952. He was stationed at Ft Lenardwood where he was trained as a Combat Engineer. Next, he spent 2 years in Korea and while there he became affluent in the Korean language. His military training earned him the position of Military Occupational Specialist for his expertise in explosives. He was honorably discharged in March of 1955.
On a continual quest for education, he relocated from Terre Haute to Indianapolis, May of 1955 where he studied at Lain Technical Institute. There he completed the Architectural Program with an Associate of Science Degree I Architectural Drafting. Joseph later received from IUPUI a certification for Time Study and Methods.
One can never have too much education, so he continued his education at Midwest Institute Inc which enabled him to equip himself to meet the needs of the congregation as it related to drug and alcohol addiction and counseling entire families through trying times, and Inner-City Juvenile Center Counselor. He led and/or participated/assisted in different community programs. His servanthood included being an ordained Deacon, part of the male chorus, Sunday school teacher, Trustee, Usher, Treasurer, Vice President.
His final fete accompli in education was as the oldest doctorial graduate of Martin University at the age of 80 years old. It gave him a higher level of understanding of God and his Word and fulfilled his main purpose in life to be a blessing to others be it natural or spiritual needs.
He worked at Bridgeport Brass as their first black foreman.
After the Army, education became Joseph’s goal. He told his father he worked too hard, and he was going to be an Architect. His father’s response was, “Boy, you can’t get a sit-down job.” He made up his mind that he would achieve all the education necessary to make his dream a fruition rather than performing manual labor. He conquered his dream of being an Architect and it was a sit-down job!
One of his greatest loves of life was being an Architect and allowed him to continue to consult on different projects up to the ripe age of 87 years old. He could still whip out a pencil and commence to drawing or rattle off specs and statutes off the top of his head. Dr Edwards was injured in an automobile accident and led to early retirement.
Both Clark Edwards Sr and Jr were CME preachers. In 1986, Dr Edwards was called to preach the Gospel and became a Baptist preacher. Quenching his continual thirst for knowledge, he enrolled in Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 as he wanted to know more about the word of God. He graduated CTS with a bachelor’s degree in Theology.
Up until he was no longer able, Dr Edwards served in the Baptist Ministers Foresight Alliance. He proudly held roles as the Secretary, Sunday School Lecturer, Chaplain and the added responsibility of being minister over the sick committee.
In 1955 he married Annetta Jo Patton until her demise in 1956. To this union Arteila was born.
In 1958 he met Coreain Oliver, and they were wed in 1959. To this union were born LaNita, Demetrius and Nila and the family unit traveled all over the country on fishing trips and family vacations.
He and Coreain were married for forty-six years until her demise on August 26, 2006.
Dr Edwards was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers- Harrison Frazier and Cleon Edwards: 7 sisters – Janice Goldstein, Mamie Bradley, Mary Lemonte, twins Viola Mayhand and Violet Steward, Margaret Stanley, and Leota Minor.
Dr Joseph Lorenzo Dawson Edwards leaves on earth to cherish his memories 3 daughters- Artelia Reynolds (Gary) South Pittsburgh TN, LaNita Yvette Edwards Harris (Rodney) Raleigh, NC, Nila Jo Nwankpa (Chinwendu) of Indianapolis, IN and son Demetrius McKinley Edwards (Cherle) Indianapolis, IN. Grandsons Michael Reynolds, Charles Pryor and Demetrius Edwards II. Granddaughters Annetta Jo Reynolds and Cherelle Obiekwe (Onyinye). Special Grandchildren: Marcus Murphy, Tiffany Reynolds-Gaines, Sydney Evans- Richmond, Darnell Spinks, Kevin Abel, Terrell Harris, Teyon Harris, Aiesha Harris, Shania Harris and Amari Knight along with a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends
