JAMES CLEVELAND EDWARDS, 78 years of Melbourne, FL, died on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, FL. He was the husband of Catherine (Akers) Edwards with whom he had shared 58 years of marriage.

Born on June 16, 1937 in Forest Hill, MD, he was a son of the late James Floyd and Ruth (Yale) Edwards and moved from Harford County to Florida in 1958. Known to have a brilliant mind, Jim graduated from both the Maryland and Florida Institutes of Technology. Jim loved to learn and furthered his studies at the Brevard Community College in Melbourne. He worked for 41 years as an electrical and aerospace engineer for CSR, formerly RCA, in Melbourne until he retired due to a disability in 1999.

Jim traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean for the space program calibrating tracking communication devices on the islands. With his extensive technical knowledge, he could repair most any challenge he faced. Toy trail collecting was his passion, and he was a member of both the TCA (Train Collectors Assn.) of Strasburg, PA and the Southern Division Train Collectors Assn.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by:
Two children-
James F. Edwards, II and his wife, Tari of St. Cloud, FL
Michelle R. Madsen and her husband, Clair of St. Paul, MN

A sister, Jane C. Harrington and a brother, Lester E. Edwards, both of Forest Hill, MD

Four grandchildren-Jason, Jennifer, Patrick and Michael

Four great grandchildren-Angelique, Gregory, Madison and Jason, Jr.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harkins Funeral Home, Inc., 600 Main Street, Delta, PA where the funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Reverend Tracy J. Duvall of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church will officiate.

Interment will be in Deer Creek Cemetery, adjoining the Deer Creek U.M. Church in Forest Hill, MD where Jim and Catherine were married on September 7, 1957.

In lieu of flowers, his family would appreciate memorial contributions to Cornerstone Missionary Baptist
Church, 3135 Dublin Road, Street, MD 21154