John Marshall Edwards

John Marshall Edwards was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on March 12, 1939.  On his 85th birthday (March 12, 2024), Marshall began the day with his beautiful wife, Doris, and finished the day with Jesus.  It is only appropriate that Marshall’s earthly birthday and Heavenly birthday are the same day. Marshall is a beloved husband, Dad, Grandad, and Great-Grandad; dynamic preacher; visionary leader; wise counselor; trusted friend; Wonder Seeker, encourager, and Holy Rascal. Marshall is a man after God’s own heart and God’s friend. The impact of Marshall’s life and ministry will echo in eternity.

Marshall was a 1957 graduate of Newton County High School in Covington, Georgia, where he was the Student Body President and Mr. N.C.H.S. Marshall responded to God’s call to go into full-time ministry while attending a revival with friends his Senior year in high school. He pursued God’s call by attending Baylor University where he graduated in 1961 with a major in Religion and minors in English and History. While at Baylor, he was the President of the Freshman Baptist Student Union Council, President of the Ministerial Alliance, Missions Chairman of the BSU Executive Council, and Member of Student Congress, among other activities.  While a Baylor student, he also served as Pastor of the Mountain Baptist Church in Gatesville, Texas (1960-1961).

In 1958, while a student at Baylor, Marshall met the love of his life, Doris Dillard. After their first date at the Latham Springs BSU Pre-School retreat, Marshall told his cabin mates that night that he had just had the first date with the girl he was going to marry. Marshall and Doris were married on August 18, 1960.  They have enjoyed over 63 years of marriage together and have provided a legacy of love for their kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.

Following graduation from Baylor, Marshall attended Southwestern Theological Seminary where he received a Bachelor of Divinity in 1966. While he was in seminary, Marshall served as the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, Texas (1961-1964) and Meadow Oaks Baptist Church in Temple, Texas (1964-1966). He also taught Bible at Temple High School while serving at FBC Troy. He was chosen as the Baccalaureate Speaker at Temple High School both years he taught there. While in seminary, Marshall and Doris had their son, Scott, and daughter, Cindy.

Following seminary, Marshall pastored wonderful churches with the greatest people in the world. He served as Pastor of Windsor Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas (1966-1972), Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, Texas (1972-1980), First Baptist Church in Columbia, SC (1980-1983), First Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas (1983-1990), First Baptist Church of San Marcos, Texas (1990-1992 as Interim Pastor), First Baptist Church of Kingsland, Texas (1992-1993 as Interim Pastor), St. Andrews Baptist Church in Columbia, SC (1993-2000), and First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock, NC (2000-2004). In 2005 he was named Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock.

Marshall has been actively involved in serving the communities everywhere he has been. While pastoring in Austin, Texas, Marshall founded the Fellowship of Christian Athletes group at Reagan High School and served as Chaplain of the football and baseball teams at Reagan (with three state football championships). Marshall forged life-long friendships with many of the Reagan athletes, who affectionally call him “Rabbi.”

While pastoring in Waco, Texas, Marshall founded and led the popular “Wholeness of Life” series, a Luncheon Bible Study attended by approximately 400 members of the business and professional community.  He continued leading the “Wholeness of Life” series with a weekly attendance of approximately 1,000 while pastoring in Columbia, SC. 

Marshall has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Baylor University and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by the Baptist College at Charleston, SC in 1982.

Marshall has always had a heart for missions. He has served as the speaker for the annual mission meetings in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Honduras, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Kenya.

While Marshall’s earthly accomplishments are numerous, his greatest legacy is the impact he has made for the Kingdom of God. He has passionately and faithfully preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and poured himself out for the Cause of Christ. Marshall’s sermons have always been filled with wonderful stories, great humor, wisdom, and practical applications that he skillfully weaves together to bring God’s Word alive in such a powerful, understandable, and life-changing way. Countless lives have been changed for eternity because of Marshall’s life and ministry. He has dearly loved the people that God has entrusted him to serve. He has ministered to people during their times of greatest need. Marshall has always had a special ability to make you feel seen, heard, encouraged, and valued. He has exemplified the love and grace of Jesus Christ. We can only imagine that while Marshall was most excited to see His Lord and Savior face-to-face when he got to Heaven, it must have taken him awhile as person after person stopped him to say, “Thank you, I would not be here if it were not for you.” Marshall knows the meaning of storing up your treasures in Heaven and most certainly heard His Lord and Savior tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Those left to carry on Marshall’s legacy include his beloved wife of over 63 years, Doris Dillard Edwards, his son, Scott, and wife, Mary K; his daughter, Cindy; grandchildren, Kyle Edwards, and fiancé, Bella Rodriguez, Josh Patterson and wife, Kate, Jessie Patterson Perez and husband, Ethan, Hannah Edwards Moritz and husband, John, Sam Edwards and wife, Anne Maris; and great-grandchildren, Arielle Patterson, Joshua Patterson, Sophia Patterson, and Russell Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Marble Retreat Vocational Christian Counseling Center, P.O. Box 176m, Carbondale, CO 81623m, www.marbleretreat.org, or to Baylor University, 1311 S. 5th Street, Waco, TX 76706, giving.web.baylor.edu.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Friday, March 22, 2024 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. 

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 3505 Bamboo Road, Boone, North Carolina

Austin and Barnes is serving the Edwards family.

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