L.O. "BILLY" EDWARDS JR.

Ludie O'Dell "Billy" Edwards Jr., 88, husband of Sandra Jernigan Edwards, died on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at McLeod Health Clarendon in Manning.

Born on Nov. 5, 1935, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Ludie O'Dell Edwards Sr. and Annie Elise Tobias Edwards. Mr. Edwards was a lifelong member of Sumter First Baptist Church. He enjoyed helping his mother and father in their grocery store on Crescent Avenue and was a 1955 graduate of Edmunds High School, where he played football and was a member of the track team. He was a former president of "The Counts." He worked with the Sumter Fire Department and later retired as general manager of T.A. Davis Nissan. Mr. Edwards was a lifeguard at Ocean Drive Beach for four years in the 1950s and was inducted into the Living Legend Association of Ocean Drive Grand Strand in 2014. He enjoyed Surfside and Edisto beaches, the Atlanta Braves, Clemson Tigers, and especially his family and friends.

Survivors in addition to his wife of 66 years include four children, Renee E. Spears (Danny) of Blythewood, Cindy E. Belch (Brent) of Bald Head Island, North Carolina, Chris Edwards (Tracy) and Travis Edwards, both of Surfside Beach; a daughter-in-law, Shelley Edwards of Rock Hill; 10 grandchildren, Derrick O'Dell Edwards Jr., Grace Spears Ball, Jessica Helen Edwards, Elizabeth Sandra Belch, Arlee Belch Hedges, Olivia Grace Edwards, Samuel Blake Edwards, Graham Mitchell Edwards, Justin Belch and Brandon Belch; and two great-grandchildren, Hannah Ball and Philippa Hedges.

Mr. Edwards was preceded in death by a son, Derrick O. Edwards Sr.; and a sister, Betty E. Moore.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Bob Calvert. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Memorials may be sent to Sumter First Baptist Church, 107 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.