Howard Thomas Edwards, 73, passed away suddenly on March 6, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia “Ginger” Tucker Edwards, his father, Julian Carr Edwards and his mother and step-father, Ruby Young Evans and Marvin Ennis Evans.
Howard received a Bachelor’s degree from University of South Carolina before receiving his MBA at the University of Georgia. He went on to start his career in the finance and banking industry, working for NCNB, Nations Bank and Bank of America for 30 years. Putting his skills to work, Howard quickly rose to management, becoming the Senior Vice President in many territories throughout North Carolina. In 1990, he took on the role of President of the Triangle East Region in Raleigh. After retiring, he went on to work as a consultant for Commercial Banking Consultants in Raleigh for seven years.
Aside from his accomplished career, Howard was very involved in volunteering and giving back to his community. He was the director or chairman of many civic groups, such as The Boys and Girls Club, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Triangle Community Foundation and the United Way, just to name a few. He was awarded the President’s Cup Award, Outstanding City Office in System in 1987 and 1993.
In his younger years, Howard was a football and basketball player, playing basketball through college. Later in life he truly enjoyed the game of golf. He was also an avid Indian arrowhead collector. Howard had a wonderful sense of humor, always ready with a joke or a funny story. His family remembers him as being ever devoted, and always putting his children first. He was also the most enthusiastic grandfather, with his grandchildren being the light of his later years of life. Howard’s daughters will always remember his words of wisdom, with two of their favorite sayings being: “If you’re not the lead dog, the view never changes” and “A leopard’s spots never change”.
Howard is survived by his daughters, Laura Edwards Orcutt and husband, Darby, and Vee Vee Edwards Vick and husband, Chris; grandchildren, Cameron Thomas Orcutt, Parker Edwards Orcutt, Virginia Reese Vick and Juliann Hartley Vick; brother, Andrew Carr Edwards and wife, Morgan; sisters, Linda Balch and husband, Tim, and Sue Powell; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 from 2:00-5:00pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary’s Street in Raleigh. A graveside service will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018 at 1:00pm at Gardner’s Baptist Church Cemetery, 968 Church Hill Road in Macon, NC. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Howard’s memory to the SPCA of Wake County, 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603.
