Richard Nathaniel Edwards
Richard Nathaniel “Rick” Edwards, Jr., age 83, transitioned to Glory, with God forever, on March 18, after a long, hard fought 6-year battle with metastatic melanoma.
Rick was born June 27, 1942, in McComb, Mississippi to Katherine Elliot Edwards and Richard Nathaniel Edwards. Rick attended elementary school in Charlotte, NC, and graduated from Needham Broughton High School, Raleigh, N.C., in 1960. Rick completed a degree in Nuclear Engineering from N. C. State University, 1965.
Rick began employment with Ebasco Services, NYC. From there he spent his career of 34 years with Babcock and Wilcox, which later became Framatome, USA, taking early retirement in 2001.
Rick had a love of books, reading and collecting them was his life-long past time. He enjoyed a book discussion group with local men, until just a few months ago.
Rick lived out his Christian faith by involving himself in community service in every community where he lived. He was President of the Lynchburg Jaycees in 1972, and continued as a leader in the Virginia and Georgia Jaycees through the 1970’s. Rick taught Jr. Achievement, volunteered at the Men’s Shelter, participated in Mecklenburg Ministries, and while a member at Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, he started a work crew for Habitat for Humanity. Rick was involved in building 200+ habitat houses in Charlotte, NC, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Lynchburg, VA. The first house he worked on (when he was bitten by the Habitat “bug”) was part of the Jimmy Carter Work Project Habitat Building Blitz, 1987, Charlotte, NC. He worked along with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, Tom T. Hall, and hundreds of other volunteers to build 14 houses in one week. He loved to talk about that experience and he loved working on Habitat houses!
Rick served 6 years as President of the Board of Directors of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, and 6 years as President of the Board of Directors of Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity, as well as working on the mid week work crew as long as he was able. He is a Harris Fellow and served as President of the Lynchburg Rotary Club. Rick’s family celebrated with him when he received the Virginia Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Award in 2017.
Rick married Sharon Smith in 1965, and two children were born to the marriage; Richard Nathaniel “Nathan” Edwards III (Danielle), and Sharon “Eileen” Edwards.
Rick married Joel Gaither in 1985, and her children Ken, Julia, and Mary Beth joined Rick’s family. Joel died suddenly in 1988.
Rick married Linda Daniels Edwards, October 27, 1990. Linda has 3 children, Michael Scott Berry (deceased), Kirk Andrew Berry (deceased) and Tynlee Dyann Bailey. Grandchildren include: Jesika Berry, Christian Berry, Kaitlin Gaskey (Justin), Camille Berry, Lauren Edwards, Hunter Bailey, Jake Bailey; great grandchildren Grayson and Austin Gaskey.
In addition to his parents who are deceased, Rick has one brother, Henry Edwards (Cheryl), a sister Catherine Edwards (deceased), niece Ashley Cicero (Derrick), nephews Wes Edwards (Ashley), Bart Edwards (Jessica) and Mark Edwards (Kristen), great nieces Linden and Peyton Edwards and great nephews Walker Edwards, Canon, Barrett and Wilder Edwards, Nicholas and Austin Cicero.
Rick’s sisters-in-law are Shirley and Terri Daniels, niece Katie Picard (Kyle), great niece Lily and great nephew James, and brother-in-law Stephen Daniels.
Rick’s cousins are Dessie Ann Clark and Phoebe Chandler, David and Charlie Dudley, Eddie Howard (deceased) and Buck Howard; Buck’s children are Michael and Jennifer Oldenburg(Chris).
Rick was a member and served as Moderator, deacon, and taught Sunday School at Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC, and is a member and has served as an elder and taught adult Sunday School at Union Christian Church, Madison Heights, Virginia.
A Celebration of Life will be held, Monday, April 6, 11:00 am, Whitten Monelison, with a reception to follow at the Whitten facility.
Rick has established the “Rick Edwards’ Educate Habitat Kids” scholarship fund with the Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity. After helping to build affordable, decent housing for Habitat families for the past 35 years, Rick’s desire is to make scholarships available to children of Habitat families to attend Central Virginia Community College. In lieu of flowers, please consider a generous gift to this fund and carry on Rick’s passion for Habitat by making a lasting difference in the life of a child!
Make your check payable to:
Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity
“Rick Edwards’ Educate Habitat Kids Scholarship Fund”
360 Allegheny Avenue
Lynchburg VA 24501
