Dr. David Franklin Edwards DDS 78 of Mount Gilead died Thursday evening, March 30, 2023 at his home.
Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, April 7, 2023 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Norwood. Dr. Mark Barden will officiate. A reception will follow at the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church, Mt. Gilead.
Dr. Edwards was born April 4, 1944 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late John Clifton and Ruth Stephenson Edwards. He was a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC and the Medical College of Virginia where he received his Doctorate of Dentistry. He was a Dentist for more than forty years in Raleigh and Kannapolis.He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mt. Gilead.
David was a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather. His greatest joy was found in spending time with his family, especially supporting his grandchildren in all their activities.To his grandchildren he was affectionately known as “Buddy” and was a wonderful teacher and role model. He was full of life and very outgoing, enjoying life to the fullest. He loved boating, gardening, music, Shag dancing, and coin collecting. He was a “history buff” and Civil War, WWI and WWII enthusiast and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years Diane Smither Edwards. Son, Jonathan David Edwards and daughter Amanda Edwards Rusmisell (Jay). Grandsons, Elijah Dakota Edwards, Maxwell David Rusmisell and Bennett James Rusmisell. Sister and Brother, Elizabeth Edwards Cox and family, John Lee Edwards and family. Sister-in-law Carole Smither Greene, nieces, Ashlynn Greene Kelker, Alicia Ann Greene, great nieces, Katherine Kelker, Allison Kelker and Morgan Greene-Haines
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Edwards, father and mother-in-law, George and Francis Smither and brother-in-law Frederick William Greene.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Ellen Taylor Foundation (https://ellentaylorfoundation.org/DONATIONS.html), Beth Mitchell Foundation (http://www.shagnationals.com/scholarship-info) or Junior Shag Dance Team. (https://www.juniorshagdanceteam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=174)
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