Edwards Henry

CANTON – Edwards C. Henry passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 21, 2015, at the age of 95. Services will be at First Baptist Church in Canton at 10 a.m. today, June 23. Breeland Funeral Home of Canton is in charge of arrangements.
Ed Henry, ""Pop"" to his eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, was born in Pontotoc County to W.C. and Alma Edwards Henry. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and one sister; his wife of 68 years, Evelyn Farrell Henry; an infant son, William Wallace; and infant grand-daughter, Kayla Rinne Henry.
Mr. Henry was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Canton, where he served for many years as deacon, church treasurer and teacher in Sunday School.
Pop's childhood was spent in Pontotoc County, but he moved to Canton in 1941, where he spent the remainder of his life. He served his country in WWII as a pilot of the Flak Fled Flapper, B24 Liberator Bomber, assigned to the 380th Bomb Group, stationed in Darwin, Australia. He flew 32 missions from Darwin before moving to Mindoro Island, where he flew combat missions to Formosa and ground support missions for battles still being fought in the Philippines.
Mr. Henry operated the C&C Grocery stores as managing partner from 1945 until selling them in 1964 when he became president and operating officer of First Federal Savings and Loan of Canton. During his 20 years of leadership First Federal grew to a large and successful association which was merged with Magnolia Federal Savings and Loan later to become Magnolia Federal Bank, Union Planters and finally Regions Bank in Canton. A graduate of the Savings and Loan Institute of the University of Georgia, Mr. Henry served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Savings and Loan Retirement Fund, the U.S. Savings and Loan League, Magnolia Federal Bank, and the Mississippi Economic Council. Elected in 1961 Mr. Henry served seven and a half years representing Madison County in the Mississippi State Senate. After retiring in 1984 Mr. Henry spent many hours on the golf course and in his self-designed garden full of azaleas, daylilies and dogwoods.
Mr. Henry is survived by daughters, Lynn Nelson (Ben), Sherrie Odom, Betty Jeanne Barnes (Ralph), and son, Edwards F. Henry (Donna);brothers, Wallace and Dean Henry, and sister, Katherine Huckaby. He is also survived by grandchildren, Benji Nelson (Lauren), Laura Nelson Wells (Chris), Brett Odom (Jimmy Greer), Troy Odom (Brittany), Elisabeth Barnes Steele (Gibson), Megan Barnes, Bradley Barnes (Anna) and Kyle Henry (Bailey Sims). He is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Mary Grace Nelson, Evelyn and Katherine Wells, Caroline and Hayes Odom, Synar and Sara Evelyn Steele, Smith and Mary Elisabeth Barnes, and Braden Gatlin.
The family would like to especially thank his wonderful caregivers, Connie Butler, Dawn Lyons, Annie and Dorothy Walker, for their loving care. These special ladies made it possible for Pop to remain in the home he loved so much.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Canton or Canton Academy.