Rev. Oren R. Edmonds Sr.

Rev. Oren Rex Edmonds, Sr., 80, of 236 Meadow Oaks Dr. Statesville, died Thursday at his home. Born in Charlotte on February 25, 1930, he was a son of the late James Edmonds and Edna Deaton Edmonds. Rev. Edmonds was a retired United Methodist Minister having served the following churches in this area: Clemmons, Vanderburg, Catawba, Monticello, Midway, Shiloh and Wesley Chapel United Methodist Churches. Just prior to his retirement he served as associate minister at Broad St. United Methodist Church. In Charlotte he served the St. Luke, Harrison and Thrift United Methodist Churches He was a member of the Western N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. Rev. Edmonds held B.A. and M.A. degrees. He enjoyed sailing, playing piano and electronics.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Kay Edmonds and a sister, Imogene E. Dellinger, formerly of Charlotte.

On October 4, 1952 he married the former Margaret Laquita Payne who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Oren Rex Edmonds, Jr. and his wife, Angela of Cleveland, N.C. and David Richard Edmonds and his wife, Kay of Mooresville, two daughters, Mary E. Helms and her husband, John of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Laquita Ann Sechler and her husband, Gene of Concord, N.C. Additional survivors include a brother, James Edmonds, III of Jacksonville, Fla. and six grandchildren.

Services celebrating Rev. Edmonds' life and ministry will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Sunday at Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Jason Harvey officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be ministers in attendance and the Christian Forum Sunday School Class Members of Broad Street United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends in Memorial Hall of the church immediately following the service. Entombment will take place following a commital service at 3:00 P.M. Monday at the Forest Lawn West Cemetery Mausoleum in Charlotte. At other times, the family will be assembled at the residence.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church Overseas Relief Fund C/O Broad St. United Methodist Church 315 W. Broad St. Statesville, N.C. 28677.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.