Delton Frenchie Edwards

DELTON FRENCHIE EDWARDS was born January 9, 1951, to Willie James Edwards, Sr. and Lois Neal Patterson Edwards in Newport News, Virginia. He departed this life at home on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Windsor Mills, Maryland, after a lengthy illness.

Frenchie was educated in the Newport News public school system where he was born and raised.

Frenchie was raised in the Church of God in Newport News under the pastorate of Elder L. S. Michaux. As a child, his father was pastor of the Church of God in Kinston, North Carolina. He traveled with him and the rest of the family for many years from Newport News to Kinston and back every Sunday, as his father oversaw the spiritual growth of the congregation there.

Frenchie had a flair for fashion and a sense of style. He loved good clothes, and always dressed well. He was an exceptional dancer, and he loved to sing. His favorite dessert was banana pudding made by his youngest sister. He could eat a whole bowl in one sitting.

He met the love of his life, the former Stephanie Gates, in the early 2000's. They were married on July 4, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland, officiated by Frenchie's oldest brother, Elder Willie James Edwards, Jr., and a special family friend, Pastor Artos Martin. They loved to eat at different restaurants, and travel from city to city to visit family and friends. Theirs was a strong bond of love that was unbreakable by all that life brought their way.

Frenchie loved his family and friends. Anyone who came against them had him for an enemy. He was constantly calling and visiting in an effort to stay in touch and to keep family and friendship bonds close. He loved his parents dearly. There was hardly a day that went by that he didn't speak of them. He looked up to and adored his brothers. Windsor would fuss at him like he was his son. Frenchie never took offense and would just say, "OK Win!" He loved his sisters, always ready to protect them. With Frenchie, what you saw was what you got. Frenchie was the type of man that would give you his last.

Frenchie also loved sports, the Washington Redskins when he lived in D.C. and the Baltimore Ravens when he lived in Baltimore. He never held back on anything he wanted to say. He was a joy to be around, and if you needed a good laugh, he wouldn't let you down. He loved children and they were always amused while he entertained them.

Frenchie was preceded in death by his parents, Lois Neal Edwards (1978) and Willie James Edwards, Sr. (1988), and his sister, Valerie Edwards Price (2016).

He leaves to cherish his memory and mourn his death: his loving wife of seventeen years, Stephanie Gates-Edwards; two brothers, Willie James Edwards, Jr. (DeAtlas) and Windsor Russell Edwards (Deborah); two sisters, Connie Janet Edwards­Smith and Barbara Lesa Edwards Hurst (Anthony); two sisters­in-law, Ivy Gates-Smith (Danard) and Eileen Gates; four nephews, Eric Edwards, James Edwards, Jermaine Edwards, and Anthony Hurst II (Jessica); six nieces, Karen Edwards-Page (Eric), Tracy McLean (Grady), Tonya Edwards Williams (Garland), Lois Hurst-Jackson (Philip), Joslyn Ladd-Pritchett (Ahmed), and Cree Gates-Kontsis; several great-nephews and nieces; a number of close friends, as well as a number of extended family and friends.

Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting Funeral Home, Kevin D. Whiting FD, 1132 Cottman Ave Philadelphia, PA 19111. whitingfuneralhome.net and Whiting’s Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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