MILTON - Surrounded by family and friends, on the evening of June 5, 2016, at 4: p.m., Willie James Edwards of Milton, departed this life quietly and peacefully following a prolonged illness. Willie James was born in Lovett, Florida on October 19, 1943 as the 8th child and youngest son to the late Homer and Eliza Edwards, nee Watkins. He met and married the love of his life, Bernice Mitchell Edwards in 1967. God gave the the pleasure of celebrating 49 years of marriage on May 11, 2016. This union was blessed with one son, Willie James Edwards, Jr. and a daughter, Christa Edwards. Willie James graduated from Washington Street High School in Quitman, Ga. in 1962. He enlisted in the army and served his country during the Viet Nam War from 1965 until 1967. Following the military, Willie James moved to Lewes, where he was employed by the Fish Products Co. He worked at Perdue Farms for fifteen years and then later took a job as custodian with the Cape Henlopen School Dist from where he retired in 2006. At an early age Willie James joined the Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman , Ga. and later became a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Lewes. Willie James was preceded in death by his father, Homer; his mother, Eliza Edwards; three sisters, Homer Lee Adams, Mae Edna Whitfield and TeCola McClain; one brother, Tommy Edwards; five brothers in-law, Charlie Bembry, Thomas McClain, Eddie Turner, Ernest Bass and Thomas Mitchell: one sister in- law, Charlie Mae Sherman; three nephews, Eddie Turner, Jr., Johnny Edwards, and Ronald (Manny) Bull. He leaves to mourn his passing his devoted wife of forty-nine years, Bernice Mitchell Edwards; son, Willie James, Jr. & Tamela Edwards of Milton; two daughters, Christa Edwards & special friend- Reginald Sample of Milton and Stacy Gillis of Millsboro; two granddaughters, Courtney & Rayonna; five grandsons, Christopher, William, Tyreik, David, & Cory; two brothers, Rev. George & Ardeth Edwards, Sr. Milton and Billy & Geneva Edwards, Lewes; two sisters, Mary Turner, Milton and Geneva Bembry Abbeyville, La.; one brother in-law, Rev. Marion & Velvie Mitchell, Columbia, Md.; two sisters-in-law, Jean Bass, Trenton, N.J. and Hattie & Berry Bull of Milton; one god daughter, Brenda Mason of Milton; a special cousin-in-law, Willie Lee Seay, Quitman, Ga.; his church family, a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Services: Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 1 p.m., at Friendship Baptsit Church.Friends may call at the church two hours before service, and Saturday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., 500 W. Fourth St., Lewes, DE 19958 Service of Love: Miller Cremation & Funeral Services, 11475 Commercial Lane Unit-C, Laurel, DE 19958, 302-947-1144 & 302-745-8406, www.millerfuneralandcremation.com