Obituaries: Dr. John Rodden Edwards, 1937, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 29, 1937 Winn Parish Enterprise

Dr. J. R. Edwards, Veteran Minister, Called By Death

Former Pastor of Local Baptist Church Dies

Dr. John Rodden Edwards, 85, of Ruston, died at his home there at an early
hour Monday morning.

Dr. Edwards was born in Hinds County, Mississippi, September 10, 1851, and had
been active in the Baptist ministry in Louisiana since July 4, 1878, having at
one time been president at Mount Lebanon College, near Gibsland, and had
filled some of the leading pulpits in the state.  He was pastor of the
Winnfield Baptist Church a number of years.

Dr. Edwards served as president of the Louisiana State Baptist Convention from
1898 to 1901.

Among those attending from Winnfield were Mrs. E. J. Byrnes, who was a cousin
to the deceased, Mr. E. J. Byrnes, Mrs. Joel Terrill, Mrs. Jim Watts, Mrs. A.
M. Douglas, and others.

Dr. Edwards came to Louisiana in December, 1876, and entered Concord Institute
in Union Parish where he was a student for two sessions.  In 1883 he went to
Mississippi College at Clinton, from which school he graduated.

He was ordained by the Shiloh Church in Union Parish July 14, 1878, during the
session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

Dr. Edwards was married to Miss Lena Woodard of Dubberly, La., in 1905.  To
them were born two children, a son, John, who died in 1928, and a daughter,
Mrs. Bessie Cook.  He is survived by his widow and daughter.

Dr. Edwards was considered one of the pioneers in laying the foundation for
organized Baptist work in Louisiana.