Willis Lloyd Edwards III

Willis Lloyd Edwards, III, age 60, of Ivor, Virginia, transitioned from earth to glory on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, Virginia. Willis, affectionately known by family and friends as "Lil Bro" was born at Louise Obici Memorial Hospital, Nansemond County, VA to the late Willis Lloyd Edwards Jr. and Mary Anna Hill Edwards Warren on February 23, 1960. He was a graduate of Windsor High School where he played Junior Varsity and Varsity football. Willis had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He along with his father WL would often entertain the family with jokes and loved a good laugh. Willis was charismatic and never met a stranger that he could not call a friend. Gifted with a soulful baritone voice he enjoyed singing gospel favorites "Peace Be Still" and "I Won't Complain" or Rhythm and Blues song "Just My Imagination" by the Temptations. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life Carolyn Diane Tucker on May 22, 1980 at his parents' home in Zuni, Virginia. He attended Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Virginia and enlisted in the United States Army as a Combat Medic in 1979. His military service spanned 12 years including one combat deployment in support of the invasion of Grenada in 1983. He was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant. During his career, Willis and his family was stationed in Germany, Oklahoma and North Carolina. His military awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Combat Medical Badge, and the Army Parachutist Badge. Willis is preceded in death by his father, Willis Lloyd Edwards Jr. He is survived by a devoted wife Carolyn, daughter Tasha (Chad) of Ivor, VA, sons Willis IV(Amanda) of Ashland, VA and Marcus (Katy) of Ivor, VA, one grandson Chad Jr., three granddaughters McKenna, Gabrielle and Taleah. Left to cherish his memory are his mother, Mary A. Warren of Richmond, VA and six sisters, Mary Mason (George) of Suffolk, VA, Linda Brown (Keith) of Richmond, VA, Marjorie Brandham of Windsor, VA, Carol Lyttle (Glenn) of Smithfield, VA, Barbara Burrell (John) of Windsor, VA and Stephanie Edwards of Windsor, VA, step-brothers John Warren (Rose) of Chesapeake, VA, Steve Warren (Jung) of Suffolk, VA, Keith Warren (Nick) of Chesapeake, VA, Jesse Warren (Denise) of Waverly, VA and Gary Warren (Lillian) of Norfolk, VA, step-sister Dorothy Etter of Richmond, VA and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to NAMI -National Alliance on Mental Illness - the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Donate via https://nami.org/findsupport. Thank You We deeply appreciate and gratefully acknowledge your kind expressions of sympathy. The family of Willis Lloyd Edwards, III, will always remember it. A Private Graveside Service will be held at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Cemetery, Suffolk, VA. Public Viewing will take place 2-4 pm Sunday August 16, 2020 at Shivers Funeral Chapel. Mr Edwards is in the loving and professional care of Shivers Funeral Chapel. Please keep the Edwards family in your prayers.

A Private Graveside Service will be held at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Cemetery, Suffolk, VA. Public Viewing will take place 2-4 pm Sunday, August 16, 2020 at Shivers Funeral Chapel. Mr Edwards is in the loving and professional care of Shivers Funeral Chapel. Please keep the Edwards Family in your prayers.