A celebration of life has been announced for Jimmie C. Edwards, founder of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission, following his death March 31.
Edwards, 77, was a driving force behind the creation of the commission which oversees the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park in Conroe. He also served as a state representative for Montgomery County in the 1970s and Montgomery County judge in the 1980s.
CONROE ELECTIONS: Early voting for Conroe municipal posts starts Monday. Here is who is on the ballot.
A public gathering will take place at 10 a.m. May 2 at the park, 1776 Freedom Blvd. in Conroe.
“We invite all who wish to honor Judge Edwards to come and celebrate his life and the remarkable legacy he leaves behind,” according to a Friday announcement from the commission.
Those attending are encouraged to wear walking shoes and a head covering to spend a day in the park admiring the space that Edwards, an injured Vietnam War veteran, envisioned.
Edwards grew up in Conroe and served as a Congressional page in high school. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. In August 1969, he was severely wounded, losing both legs. He returned to Conroe later that year walking on prosthetic legs and carried the same dogged determination with him the remainder of his life.
FAIR UPDATE:
In early 2020, he had a vision to move the 1976 Conroe veterans’ park to a new, more visible location and led the charge to create the new Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park at Interstate 45 and Texas 105 in Conroe. It was dedicated on Memorial Day 2021.
“The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park stands as a lasting testament to his passion, purpose and profound respect for those who have worn the uniform,” according to the announcement.