Elder Cecil E. Edwards

LIFE REFLECTIONS
Elder Cecil Montez Edwards, son of Pauline Miller and the late Cecil Edwards, was born on March 7, 1966, in East Saint Louis, Illinois.
He was educated in the East Saint Louis Public School System. During that he played football for the Little Knights. After a knee injury, he switched his talent to his first love, music. Cecil was a dedicated member of the East Saint Louis Sr. High Marching Band (Class of 84') where he played xylophone, trombone, tuba, and drums. Later in life, he added acoustic and bass guitars to his instrument list. He earned college credits at Belleville Area College (BAC), now known as Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC).
As a young adult, Cecil professed his faith in Jesus Christ attending Moore's Temple Church of God in Christ. He obtained his minister's license then later his eldership.
After becoming a father immediately after high school, he decided to delay his dreams of becoming a pilot to devote his time to raising his children. He spent his time leading his family, often counseling, and coaching all who needed help.
As the years passed, Cecil met Darcell Mosley and within a year they were united in holy matrimony.
His final employment was with the United States Department of Agriculture RD in St. Louis, Missouri, where he devoted 24 years as a federal civilian employee.
Cecil, who was lovingly known by his close family as "Montez", used his sense of humor and his "Jack of all trades" talent/knowledge to secure many friendships through the years. As an avid reader, his interests ranged from fact/fiction, conspiracies, and Ninja/Samurai histories to African American histories as it relates to religion. He loved the Most High so much, he would fall asleep countless nights on his knees with his face in his Bible.
Although Cecil's pride and joy was his family and the talent within it, he was proud of his accomplishment as a self proclaimed pit master/griller, photographer, bowler, and outdoorsman. Additionally, he loved planning family events, puzzles, building model vehicles, westerns, The Three Stooges, cartoon comedies, Star Wars, and classic tv shows.
Cecil fell in a forever sleep surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 10, 2022. He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Edwards, and brothers, David Edwards and Renegade "Rengay" Edwards.
His life will be forever cherished in the lives of: his wife, Darcell Edwards of Belleville, IL; his mother, Pauline Edwards of East St. Louis, IL; his siblings, Stanley Edwards of Racine, WI, Larry Edwards of DeKalb, MS, Paul (Tasha) Edwards of Granite City, IL, DeMario (Suzette) Edwards of Belleville, IL, Kiea Edwards, Bonita (Ramone) Edwards, and Paulette Bennett of East St. Louis, IL; his children, Tranecia (Jeffrey) Fort and Cordero (Kendra) Edwards of Belleville, IL, Tyler M.E. Klocke; and his step children, Darteven Hawkins, Steven Hawkins, Jeremiah Hawkins, and Joshua Hawkins of East St. Louis, IL; his grandchildren, Jeremy, Autumn, and Fallon Fort, K'myla Towns, Cordero "CJ" and Kielle Edwards; special cousins, Aubrey Kennedy of San Bernadino, CA and Fredericka Walker, of Fairview Heights, IL; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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