Frank Edwards Obituary

Frank Edwards, Jr., 88, passed away on July 14, 2025. He was born on March 16, 1937 in Charleston, S.C. to parents Frank Edwards, Sr. and Sarah Chisolm Edwards. Frank was predeceased by parents, his loving wife Madeline Bly Edwards, and his sisters Joan (a.k.a. Jackie) Edwards, Anne Edwards Alston, Thomasina Edwards Jackson, Dolores Edwards Jenkins, and Beverly Edwards. He is survived by his son Sheldon Bing Edwards (Danielle) of Matthews, N.C., granddaughter Nina Spruiel-Bly Edwards, grandson Keith Werts, Jr.; sisters Sara Louise Edwards Otis of Waukegan, IL., Marsha Nelson of Charleston, S.C., brother David (Carol) Edwards of Brooklyn, N.Y., sisters-in-law Louise Spain of Ladson, S.C., and Elsie Bailey of Bronx, N.Y.; and a host of very special nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. Frank graduated from Burke high school in Charleston, S.C. in 1955. He entered the U.S. Air Force in the same year and during his tenure traveled domestically and internationally to Japan, France, Alaska, Thailand, Turkey and other foreign bases. While stationed in Massachusetts, he agreed to a blind date, and happily found a love match with Madeline Bly; whom he married on June 20, 1969. Madeline became Frank's life-long travel partner and companion. Their only child Sheldon was born in 1970 in Manhattan (Harlem), N.Y. Frank and Madeline cleverly gave Sheldon the middle name "Bing," Frank's nickname given by family and friends because of his similarity to singer Bing Crosby. Frank taught and nurtured Sheldon's knowledge and passion for the sport of boxing, and they enthusiastically spent their time together watching, debating, and analyzing matches in-person or over the phone. Frank retired from his accomplished Air Force career in 1979 as a Senior Master Sergeant. He subsequently earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Trident Technical College while working as a Civil service employee at the Charleston Naval shipyard until it closed in 1996. Frank, an avid reader, also served as a long-term substitute teacher in the Dorchester County school system. Frank and Madeline were members of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist church, North Charleston, S.C., Rev. Dr. Byron L. Benton, pastor.