Julius Dupree “J. D.” Edwards | Eastern NC Now

    Mr. Julius Dupree "J. D." Edwards, age 88, a resident of Chocowinity, NC died on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

    A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington and will be officiated by Jason Kirkman and Pastor Josh Farley. A burial with masonic rites will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Dennis Smith, Richard Sheriff, Mike Smith, Tavner Dixon, Bryan Evans, and Travis Martin will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be George Coghill and Luther Harvey.

    The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until the funeral hour on Friday at the funeral home and other times at the home.

    Mr. Edwards was born in Beaufort County on January 8, 1938, son of the late Johnnie Weston Edwards and the late Dona Mae Moore Edwards. He was a 1956 graduate of Chocowinity High School. On April 2, 1961, he married the love of his life, the former Yvonne Carney who preceded him in death on November 27, 2023. They spent sixty-two years here on earth and will now spend eternity in heaven. He retired from the former PCS Phosphate in Aurora as a foreman. He dearly loved bluegrass music, and playing Christian bluegrass music. There was not a musical instrument he could not play. A pastime of his was watching squirrels eating bird food from his bird feeders. He was a member of the former Chocowinity Baptist Church where he was very active in all aspects of the church including being a deacon. He had attended Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church when his health permitted. He was also a member of Washington Masonic Lodge 675 AF&AM, and the Beaufort County Shrine Club.

    Survivors include his children, Donna Carawan and her husband Joe, John Edwards and his wife Shelia, and Leigh Ann Baker and her husband Wayne all of Chocowinity; a brother, Charlie Boy Edwards of Chocowinity; grandchildren, Jacob Edwards and his fiancée Nic of Chocowinity, Zachary Paramore and his wife Taylor of New Bern, Kayla Riley and her husband Walt of Cove City, Jameson Edwards of Chocowinity, and Daniel Baker of Chocowinity; and great grandchildren, Miles Paramore and Clemmy Riley.

    The family would like to extend a special thank you to Julia Whetstone, and the 3rd floor Beaufort County Comfort Care for the compassionate care given to Mr. Edwards and their concern for the family.

    Flowers are welcome and appreciated and the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions be made to Shriners Children's Hospital, https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/ways-to-give

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Edwards family.