Reverend John Wayne Edwards

Services Celebrating the Life of Reverend John Wayne Edwards will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Poplar Springs Drive Baptist Church of Meridian, MS, with  Rev. Joseph Bird officiating. A private Interment was held following family graveside rites at Pine Forest Baptist Church Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Reverend John Wayne Edwards, 75, of Meridian, MS, passed away on October 3, 2024, at his residence.

Wayne was born September 21, 1949, and grew up in Indianola, MS.  Wayne accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior during high school and was called to be a pastor during his freshman year in college.  He was ordained to the gospel ministry at the Second Baptist Church, Indianola, on April 27, 1969.  He graduated from Mississippi College in 1973 and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1976.  Wayne pastored Mississippi churches in the towns of McCool, Little Rock, Eudora, Meridian, and Collinsville for a total of 24 years; he served as Minister of Education at First Baptist Church Clinton for 5 years; and he served as the Associational Missions Director for Lauderdale County Baptist Association for 17 years.

Beyond the local church, Wayne had a servant’s heart.  He worked with the Mississippi Baptist Convention’s Baptist Children’s Village for 42 years and served as Trustee for 24 years.  He was an adjunct professor at Meridian Community College for 24 years where he taught biblical studies classes.  Wayne was the associational coordinator for World Changers in Meridian for 12 years. He was also a leader with the youth and adult Leadership Lauderdale Programs for 18 years, where he was well known for teaching the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  Over the years, Wayne also served organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Meridian High School Band Boosters, Pine Lake Fellowship Camp, and numerous other organizations.

Wayne was an avid outdoorsman.  He loved to bass fish almost as much as he enjoyed eating fried fish!  He enjoyed hunting deer, dove, quail, squirrel, and turkey.  Wayne also loved shooting sporting clays at the Boy Scout’s Camp Bianchi.

Wayne was a wonderful husband and father who loved spending time with his family and friends.  He was truly unselfish and will be remembered for his extensive mentoring of ministers and fellow believers.

Bro. Wayne is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patti Pierce Edwards; his children Scott (Lydia) Edwards and Elizabeth (Justin) McDonald; grandchildren Reed, Jake, Levi, Ella Kate, Emerson, and Kinsley.

He is preceded in death by his infant son, Kim, and parents Robert John and Lois Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village at https://www.baptistchildrensvillage.com/give.

Online condolences may be expressed at robertbarhamffh.com

The Edwards Family will receive guests from 9:00 AM until 10:50 AM prior to funeral rites in the church.