Mr. Joey Edwards

EDWARDS, Mr. Joey - Age 59, passed away Friday, April 17, 2020 at University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI. Funeral service 11:00 AM Thursday, April 30, 2020 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the chapel 11:00 AM Thursday. Mr. Edwards will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday. A Life Well Lived Mr. Joey Edwards was born to the parents of Oliver Sr & Billie Edwards on Friday June 24, 1960 at Hurley Hospital in Flint, MI. He was the youngest child born to this union. He attended Clark and Scott Elementary Schools where he participated in Boy Scouts and was a member of the Scott All-Stars basketball team (#34). Joey was a member of the Whittier Middle School football team who became the City Football Champions in 1975 and he also played drums in the band while he attended there. Joey very proudly graduated from Central High School in 1978 where he was a member of the football team (#75). He was very active with the Central High School class of 1978 and served on the 30th Year City Wide High School Reunion committee as well as helped with planning the Central tailgates for the Class of 1978. He was a Flint Central Indian forever. Joey accepted Christ at the age of 8 and was baptized on May 4, 1969 at Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Robert R. Turpin where he was active in Sunday School, the Choir and Usher Board. Joey was a pivotal member of The Shepherds (formally known as The Mighty Gospel Shepherds) gospel quartet founded by his late father, Oliver Edwards Sr. He joined the Shepherds in 1970 at the age of 10 years old and traveled all over the country singing praises to our God. The Shepherds released three independent albums, were nominated in five categories at the 1988 Gospel Music Workshop of America and released five national recordings: “Alive and Restored”, “Live In Durham”, “Trilogy”, “Tribute” and “New Beginnings”; three of which reached the billboard Top 40 charts. Joey was a Singer, Songwriter, Arranger, Producer and self-taught Musician of bass and drums. Throughout his years with The Shepherds he served as Lead Vocalist, Bass Player, Band Leader, Group Manager and Stylist. Joey was in the process of recording a new album for The Shepherds at the time of his passing. Joey served as a musician for many churches and choirs throughout his life as either drummer or bass player. He was serving as Bass Player for New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church at the time of his passing. He was a mentor to many musicians and singers. Joey’s legacy in the music industry will live on for decades to come. Joey had a passion for children. He loved them and they loved Mr. Edwards. He worked at Scott Elementary, Durant Tuuri Mott and Brownell Elementary with Rainbow Learning Programs and Title I. He worked as a Behavior Specialist at Brownell Elementary and then at Neithercut Elementary for many years until the time of his passing. Mr. Edwards was known to be firm but fair and always kind. He was the only positive male role model many of his students had. He was a strong influence that his students never forgot as many told him when they became adults. He left an indelible footprint in the Flint community. Joey loved manicuring his lawn, gardening, playing chess and spending time with his family. Joey was a very kind, caring and generous man with a great sense of humor who touched many lives. He met no strangers. He could meet you today and make you feel like he’d known you for years. His laughter was boisterous, and his smile would light up a room. He enjoyed living his life and he lived it well. Joey went home to be with the Lord on Friday April 17, 2020 at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI. While he is no longer with us physically, his spirit lives on in all the lives that he touched. His memory will be forever cherished by: loving & devoted wife of twenty-four years and best friend, Bridget Edwards; two sons, Joey Edwards II (fiancé Sophelia Hicks) and Joe’l Edwards; mother, Billie J. Edwards; sisters, Joy Edwards and Yvonne Brown; brother, Stacey Reeves; two grandsons, Jadin and Sean; one aunt, Irene McKay; one uncle, Wesley Singleton; nephews, O’Juan, Oliver III and Jeremy; nieces, Shanzell, Heather, Mona, Toi and Catryna (whom he helped raise); many other relatives and friends including his life-long friends from Flint Central High School and his workout buddies at The Rock. Joey was preceded in death by his brother, Oliver Edwards Jr and his father, Oliver (Pop) Edwards Sr. They are back together again. The family wishes to express thanks to the University of Michigan Health System staff, Pastor Patrick Sanders and the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church family, Pastor Jevon Catlett and the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church family, Pastor Lawrence Vaughn and the Triumph Church-Flint family and the staff of the Lawrence E Moon Funeral Home of Flint.

Mr. Joey Edwards

June 24, 1960 - April 17, 2020