Freda Jane Bumgarner

On August 29th, 2024, our mother Freda entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to hear “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

Freda was born in Burningtown, NC on July 29th, 1928, to William Robert Edwards and Beulah Josephine (Welch) Edwards.

Upon graduation from Franklin High School mom worked for the Department of Defense in Asheville, NC, but life would eventually take her from the mountains to sunny south Florida to the small town of Homestead, just north of the Keys. It was there she reared her 8 children and when all of them were old enough to attend school, she went to work part-time at Colonial Christian School.

She began as a kindergarten teacher then eventually moved to work full time at South Dade Baptist Church, running the off-set printing press for the school and the church. She was a faithful member at SDBC for over 30 years, serving in the nursery and children’s department. She not only shared the love of Jesus with children, but the young men and women that helped in the print shop received motherly counsel and were encouraged to keep their eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith. She was a proactive advocate for supporting home and foreign missionaries.

She was passionate in her faith and in her love for her family and others, but mom also enjoyed spending time with our dad, James in their boat, “The Lemon Drop” fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. They also shared a love for flowers and grew orchids, and at one time had over 300 in their shade house. When our father passed away in 2009, mom moved back to North Carolina to live with Randy and Tammie, her son and daughter-in-law. It wasn’t long before she fell in love with her new church family and formed many new friendships. She had a great laugh, put others first, had a sweet spirit and could be a “little competitive” when playing games.

Our mother had unshakeable devotion and faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and was a testimony of a life lived in Grace. Her life exemplified love, kindness, and compassion to everyone she met. She will be missed, but never forgotten.

She was preceded in death by her parents William Robert and Beulah Josephine Edwards, brothers Darrel Edwards, Clinton Edwards, sisters Edna Edwards Roper, Mona Edwards Roper, and Ethel Edwards Laube, her beloved husband James Howard Bumgarner, and sons Richard Ledford and James Bumgarner Jr., and her favorite son-in-law Doug Wycoff.

Still surviving are her brother Bob Edwards, sisters Ruth Simonds and Lucille Fouts, children Roger (Peggy) Bumgarner, Wayne Bumgarner, David (Kathy) Ledford, Randy (Tammie) Ledford, Patricia (Bumgarner) Wycoff and Bruce Bumgarner, daughters-in-law Cydne (Cook) Ledford and Brenda (Stewart) Bumgarner.

She was blessed with some amazing grands: 20 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren plus a few “adopted” grandchildren (you know who you are). She also leaves behind many cherished nieces, nephews and precious friends, too many to count.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Liberty Baptist Church or Lower Cape Fear Hospice.

Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Visitation for Freda will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Liberty Church, 7957 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28411.

Funeral Service will start at 3:00 PM.

Condolences may be made to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com