Marcus Fredrick Edwards Jr., 78, passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020, at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
He was born on August 1, 1942, in Person County to Marcus Fredrick Edwards and Myrtle Thomas Dunn. After the death of his father in 1952, he and three of his brothers were raised in Raleigh, N.C., at the Methodist Orphanage, now known as the Methodist Home for Children. Later in life, he became a board member of the Methodist Orphanage/Methodist Home for Children Alumni Association. He finally had the time to give back to the organization that had cared for him in his youth. He retired from the University of North Carolina Physical Plant, then was self-employed as a paint contractor. He also loved to fish and hunt.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four children, three brothers, and one great-granddaughter.
He is survived by Martha Jean Brown, his Life Partner for 36 years; sons, Terry Wayne Edwards, Marcus Fredrick Edwards III and wife Cindy; and a daughter, Melissa Dawn Edwards; brother, Arthur Edwards and wife Donna; sister-in-law, Lois Edwards; twelve grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his many brothers and sisters from the Methodist Orphanage.
Visitation will be on Sunday, December 13, at Donaldson’s Funeral Home in Pittsboro, from 2 to 4 p.m.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, December 13, at the Jonesboro Cemetery in Sanford, beginning at 1 p.m..
Please consider a contribution in Mark’s name to the Methodist Orphanage/Methodist Home for Children Alumni Association, c/o Ms. Lilian Hammond, 7520 Lead Mine Road, #204, Raleigh NC 27615-4896. Please note “BRG Scholarship Fund” on the memo line. This is a scholarship for descendants of anyone who spent time at the orphanage.
