John Lambert Edwards, 89, passed away April 12, 2023.  He was born June 9, 1933, in Wayne County, North Carolina to the late Rev. John Henry and Lillie Edwards.  He is survived by his wife, Shirley Edwards; his two daughters, Jonett Edwards Miniel, and Jeanell Smith and husband, Randy; his stepdaughter, Debra Miller and husband, Fred; his stepson Steven Edwards; his grandchildren Jacob, Randall, Charles, and Isabella; and step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

John Edwards was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Dewell         Edwards; son, Michael Jay Edwards; son-in-law, John Michael Miniel; stepson, William (Bill) Bright Edwards, his parents and three siblings.

After being drafted into the U.S. Army as a Private in 1953, John       Edwards served on active duty, in the Army Reserve, and in Civil    Service totaling more than 40 years of combined service, before        retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He used his GI Bill to earn his       bachelor's degree in nursing from Northwestern State University and was licensed as a Registered Nurse in 1965.  He served on numerous bases in the United States and overseas, with tours of duty in Germany and Vietnam.

As proud as John Edwards was of his military service, his heartbeat was always about serving God and God's people. He graduated from Texas Bible College and became a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International in 1985, although he had been    teaching and preaching for many years before that.  One of the things he was most proud of was helping start the United Pentecostal Church International military district in Germany in 1968 while he was stationed there.  The inaugural meeting and election of the first Board took place in his living room in Giessen, Germany and he served as the first Secretary.  After retiring from the Army, John Edwards served in ministry full-time, pastoring churches in McGregor and Temple, Texas, and serving as assistant pastor in Meridian and Waco, Texas.  After retiring from full-time ministry, he was a member of the Lord's Vineyard in Goldsboro, North Carolina where he served as a Board Member, and became a member of Victory Worship Center after moving back to Houston.

The family would like to express a special thank you to caregivers Pamela Smith, Elvia Benetiz, Linda Simpson, Arnold Broussard, Katarina Erickson, and Kelly Foster, RN, and Devotion Hospice for providing the best possible care and support during this last season of life.

The family will receive friends for a visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 21st, 2023 with an 11:30 a.m. Life Celebration at Victory Worship Center, 809 West Road, Houston, Texas 77038.  Internment will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial, Houston, Texas 77038.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks you make a donation in John Edwards' honor to his favorite cause, the Boys Ranch in Loranger, Louisiana, (985) 878-6560, https://www.lighthouseranch.com/

Arrangments have been entrusted to Claire Brothers Funeral Home, 7901 Hillcroft Street, Houston, Texas 77081.