Obituaries

Willie James Edwards was born on August 30th, 1942 in Chance, Alabama to the late Eugene and Bertha Mae Edwards. He was their third son. Willie’s siblings: Charles, Nolan, James, Albert, Eugene Jr., and Regina -- all preceded him in death.

All who truly knew him, called him “Chilly Willie” due to his calm disposition and cool attitude. Before moving to California in the early 60’s, Willie united in marriage with Mazie Lee Lang. From this union four children were born: Sharon, Willie “Bill”, Dana, and Efrem. Sharon preceded Willie in death in 1962 and Willie “Bill” preceded in 2002.

In 1968, he met and captured the heart of Glory Jean Green aka to him “Sapphire”. They were married on November 13th, 1970 and have been inseparable for 45 years.

Willie was a hardworking man that always had multiple jobs to support and provide for his family. He worked as custodian for Wall Street Journal in Palo Alto, California for 26 years and he independently had his own janitorial service and maintained many buildings in the Silicon Valley Area. Often his janitorial business was a family affair by having his wife and children to assist in getting the job done. Willie also was a Lead Sanitation Engineer at Stanford Hospital for 16 years until 2000 when he suffered a heart attack. Additionally, he also worked part-time at Electronic Arts in Foster City for 10 years.

Willie was the "Fix-It Man” to his friends and family. He was also the neighborhood mechanic to “The Garden (G-Town) Community" in East Palo Alto. It never failed on a Saturday morning that you would see him cleaning the entire neighborhood and then a congregation of picnickers (Chico, Joe, Frank, Sunny, and Monroe) will begin to gather in front of 144 Verbena Drive to share in a sip or two and tell about their weekly adventures.

Willie was a simple man and didn’t require much: just a fishing pole, a smile, and some good conversation. He loved the Lord and his faith was strong. Willie became an obedient servant and was baptized in November 2000 at St. John Missionary Baptist in East Palo Alto, California. “A good man is not a perfect man; a good man is an honest man, faithful and unhesitatingly responsive to the voice of God in his life.”

In his passing, Willie leaves many family members who will continue to remember and love him -- his devoted and loving wife of 45 years, Glory Jean Edwards; one son, Efrem Edwards (Marcia); two daughters: Dana Edwards-Waller (Roderick), and Chirika Gates (Mike); eight grandchildren: Sharon, Ebony, Phillip, Myles, Michael, Daniel, Kaitlynn, and Ethan; five great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law: Lawrence Smith, and Charles Lang (Audrey); two sisters-in-law: Helen Edwards, and Flomer Williams; enduring nephew and niece: Charles and Linda Edwards; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30th, from 1-3pm and a Funeral Service will begin at 3pm at Family Bible Fellowship, 37620 Filbert St., Newark, CA 94560.