Obituary for James "Al" Edmonds
Funeral services for James Alfonso “Al” Edmonds will be Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 2 PM at Sicily Island Methodist Church with Rev. Jon Lord officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Park Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Community Memorial Funeral Home of Winnsboro, LA.
Al Edmonds was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana in 1958 to Bruce Alfonso Edmonds and to the former Mildred Anne Bynum, and grew up in Sicily Island. He graduated from Sicily Island High School in 1976 and he graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Following graduation from NLU, Al Edmonds served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army for seventeen years (1980 - 1997). His assignments included service in the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX, the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, LA, the United Nations Command Security Battalion - Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, South Korea, the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, TX, the 85th Training Division at Fort Sheridan, IL, and the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His service in 1st CAV included two deployments - one to Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and one to Kuwait for Operation Intrinsic Action and Operation Southern Watch. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished wartime service in the Persian Gulf War.
Following his retirement from the US Army as a Major in 1997, he worked as a defense contractor with the Cubic Corporation and then as a computer technician for the Johnson County Library in Leavenworth, KS. He enjoyed retirement in Fairhope, AL and eventually returned home to Sicily Island, LA where he spent the best fifteen years of his life with his wife, Candy, her family, and his beloved dogs.
After a brave fight with cancer and a massive stroke, Al Edmonds went home to God on July 25th, 2022 at the age of 64.
Al Edmonds will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him as a devoted Christian, a loving husband, a proud father, an adoring Huckleberry, an humble soldier, a fierce friend, a dog lover, and an avid fisherman.
He is preceded in death by his father, Bruce Edmonds and mother, Mildred Bynum Edmonds of Sicily Island, LA.
Al is survived by his loving wife (Candy), her daughters (Heather Clark and her husband Mark, Missy Jones and her husband Barry, and Jessica Weeks and her husband Casey), his son (Jay) and daughter-in-law (Alex), his step-grandchildren (Avery Jones, Chandler Jones, Roxie Clark, and Ainsley Clark), and his four siblings (Mary Edmonds, David Edmonds and his wife Shelly, John Edmonds and his wife Sherry, and Deborah Edmonds Borquist) and their children and grandchildren. He was “Huck” to his step-granddaughters, Sadie Weeks and Sarah Weeks. He was lifelong friends with Mark Nelson and leaves behind many friends and comrades from his service in the US Army.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9
Al Edmonds was born in Winnsboro, Louisiana in 1958 to Bruce Alfonso Edmonds and to the former Mildred Anne Bynum, and grew up in Sicily Island. He graduated from Sicily Island High School in 1976 and he graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Following graduation from NLU, Al Edmonds served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army for seventeen years (1980 - 1997). His assignments included service in the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX, the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, LA, the United Nations Command Security Battalion - Joint Security Area in Panmunjom, South Korea, the 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, TX, the 85th Training Division at Fort Sheridan, IL, and the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His service in 1st CAV included two deployments - one to Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and one to Kuwait for Operation Intrinsic Action and Operation Southern Watch. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal for his distinguished wartime service in the Persian Gulf War.
Following his retirement from the US Army as a Major in 1997, he worked as a defense contractor with the Cubic Corporation and then as a computer technician for the Johnson County Library in Leavenworth, KS. He enjoyed retirement in Fairhope, AL and eventually returned home to Sicily Island, LA where he spent the best fifteen years of his life with his wife, Candy, her family, and his beloved dogs.
After a brave fight with cancer and a massive stroke, Al Edmonds went home to God on July 25th, 2022 at the age of 64.
Al Edmonds will be remembered by those who knew him and loved him as a devoted Christian, a loving husband, a proud father, an adoring Huckleberry, an humble soldier, a fierce friend, a dog lover, and an avid fisherman.
He is preceded in death by his father, Bruce Edmonds and mother, Mildred Bynum Edmonds of Sicily Island, LA.
Al is survived by his loving wife (Candy), her daughters (Heather Clark and her husband Mark, Missy Jones and her husband Barry, and Jessica Weeks and her husband Casey), his son (Jay) and daughter-in-law (Alex), his step-grandchildren (Avery Jones, Chandler Jones, Roxie Clark, and Ainsley Clark), and his four siblings (Mary Edmonds, David Edmonds and his wife Shelly, John Edmonds and his wife Sherry, and Deborah Edmonds Borquist) and their children and grandchildren. He was “Huck” to his step-granddaughters, Sadie Weeks and Sarah Weeks. He was lifelong friends with Mark Nelson and leaves behind many friends and comrades from his service in the US Army.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9