Rev. Thomas Edwards

Rev. Thomas Micajah Edwards, age 80 of Copperas Cove, passed away at his home and went to be with his Lord and Savior, on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2019, at Clear Creek Baptist Church, with his son, Rev. Dwayne Edwards officiating.

Thomas was born on September 18, 1938, on his paternal grandparents, A. M. and Bertie Edwards' farm outside of Flat, Texas.  He was the second child, born to A. M. and Elsie Lorain Dean Edwards.  He spent many summers with his maternal grandparents, Emmit and Mae Dean on their farm outside of Moody, Texas.  As a child, his family moved to Ballinger in 1944.  It was there, Thomas began his education in public school and church.  As a young preteen, Thomas was called into the ministry.  That call was put on hold after the family moved to Killeen in 1952.  He met and married Doris Gautier on November 10, 1956 and they were blessed with four children.  At the age of 27, God transformed Thomas' life during a revival meeting at Memorial Baptist Church in Killeen.  Under the guidance and prayers of his pastor, the Rev. J. Floyd Franks, Thomas began serving in the youth ministry.  Within a very short time of a few months, Thomas again felt God calling him into the preaching ministry.  Bro. Franks held a training time for his "preacher boys" weekly.  That included Thomas, Oscar James and Dean Evans.  The three took Bible classes at Mary-Hardin Baylor under Dr. A. J. Reynolds.  They quickly became long-lasting friends and adopting the title of "The Three Musketeers".

In 1966, the Bell Association Director of Missions, Dr. N. B. Moon asked Thomas to supply preach at Youngsport Baptist Church.  The first Sunday he preached, there were six members present, with his family, wife and four children there was a total of attendance of twelve.  He quickly became their pastor and remained there for a year.  Shorty Burton came on board as the song leader.  Thomas was then called to Northside Baptist Church in Lampasas in 1967.  Some years before, there had been a split in the church, leaving much unfinished work on the building.  With primarily volunteer worker, Sunday School rooms were completed.  Under the direction of the Lord, Director of Missions, Bro Lee Roy Williamson and Br. Adrian Coleman, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lampasas, the two congregations were drawn back into one.  The church name was changed to Second Baptist Church.  Thomas served for a total of six years there as Pastor.  It has since gone back to the name, Northside Baptist Church.  He then served for just over one year as pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Juan in 1973, located in deep south Texas.  He was able to take some seminary extension classes at the association office.  With more than 90% Hispanic and not speaking Spanish along with much segregation within the church, his ministry there was very limited.  He came back home to Memorial Baptist Church in Killeen in 1974, serving as Minister of Outreach for almost a year.  Then in June of 1975, Clear Creek Baptist Church called Thomas as pastor.  He served as a bi-vocational pastor for 35 1/2 years.  During his time at Clear Creek, the church was in nine different building programs and today has a beautiful debt-free building.  There were a number of "preacher boys" called out under the ministry at Clear Creek.  Mike Fowler in Arkansas, Jerry Francis in North Carolina, David Shed in the Northwest Territories, Robin Traweek at the Cowboy Church in Copperas Cove, the late Bishop Nate Holcomb of the Christian House of Prayer in Copperas Cove and Killeen, as well as his son Dwayne Edwards, formerly at Hoover Valley Baptist Church in Burnet.  Also his "step-preacher boy", Jerry Jewel at New Hope in Copperas Cove.

After several "jobs", in 1981, he got on with the Kempner Post Office as a sub-carrier for almost 13 years and finishing out over five years a regular carrier.  Thomas retired from Clear Creek Baptist Church on December 31, 2010.  Since "retirement" he has supplied at a number of churches; Naruna Baptist Church in Lampasas County, Northside Baptist Church in Lampasas, New Hope in Copperas Cove and of course Hoover Valley Baptist Church in Burnet.  Finishing the course, he was serving as pastor at Lake Victor Baptist Church in Burnet County. What a sweet and loving church to see him home.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Doris Edwards; daughters, Dixie C. Edwards, Margaret Diane Edwards Rials and husband, Mike; sons, Thomas Dwayne Edwards and wife, Karen, and Joey Dean Edwards; sister, Katie Lorain Edwards Smith; grandchildren, Justin Thomas Edwards and wife, Jodie, Jeremy Ray Rials and wife, Tess, Melissa Dian Rials, Lisa Margaret Rials, Mathew Dwayne Edwards and wife, Shelby, Hannah Lorayne Edwards Mabrey and husband, Jeff, Zayne Micajah Edwards; great-grandchildren, Dylan Cash, Charlotte Rose Rials, Aiden Ray Rials, Aeris Lorayne Mabrey and Sadie Nova Mabrey due in September; foster/adopted children, James, Elania, Abby and Arayah Sunshine; and many brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been designated to Lake Victor Baptist Church, (Gideon Bibles), 3030 FM 2340, Lampasas, TX 76550, TX 78611 or Clear Creek Baptist Church, 3350 FM2657, Kempner, TX 76539.