He preached the gospel for more than 70 years. Miami bishop led a life of faith, family

There are a few things that Bishop Thomas Phillip Edwards loved more than life. They included the Lord, his wife, his family and preaching the Word of God.

He died on Dec. 7, after having fulfilled his dreams of being a good servant of the Lord, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for more than 72 years, for being a good husband to his wife Maxine, for more than 73 years, and for being a good father to his four children. He was 94.

Thomas Phillip Edwards was born in Overtown on Sept. 27, 1929, to the late Austin and Roxsanne Edwards. He was their first son, and the third of their seven children. He attended Dunbar Elementary School and later Dorsey High School.

From a child, he took his role as the oldest son seriously, and dropped out of school to help his parents support their growing family. When his parents moved their family from Overtown to the property at Northwest 72nd Street and 13th Avenue in Liberty City in the late 1940s, the young Thomas worked alongside his father and other men from The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness), to build the family home. His parents were pioneer members of the church.

Edwards was 17 when he accepted the Lord as his personal savior. He loved to testify that as a youngster, he thought the “Saints” (as church members are called) were “just putting on,” when they expressed their joy in the Lord.

But, on April 1, 1948, the day known as April Fool’s Day, Edwards accepted the Lord.

“I became a fool for Christ. That’s when I learned the Saints were not putting on. This thing [accepting the Lord] is for real!” he would say, flashing his big smile, leaping for joy while shouting, ‘Hallelujah!’”

It wasn’t long after he accepted salvation that he was introduced to the pretty Maxine Bullard. They were married in June 1950. Their union produced four children.

Because his wedding anniversary was always celebrated at the time of his preaching anniversary, the couple celebrated the two milestone events together in church with their family and friends. It became a tradition for the romantic Brother Tom, as he was affectionately called, to have his wife escorted to the pulpit where he held her hand and sang, to the delight of his forever bride and the congregation, “You are so Beautiful to Me.”

In 1952, the Lord called the young Brother Tom to the ministry, and he became Evangelist Edwards. (Everyone still called him Brother Tom.) It is a role he served happily for the rest of his life. He was unashamed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, always doing so with conviction.

In the early days of his ministry, the young evangelist would preach wherever he had an audience. Often, that would include preaching to passersby on street corners in Miami Dade and Broward counties.

After attending regular Sunday church services, the young evangelist would gather a few Saints and his guitar and hit the streets. The Saints sang and prayed and gave their testimonies of being delivered from sin, and he preached. At the end of the street service, Brother Tom prayed for lost souls and encouraged them to come to the Lord.

Brother Tom was known as a a lifter of the downtrodden. He was a selfless man, who would go out of his way to help anyone.

In addition to being a fixer of souls, he was also a self-taught man of many trades. Members of the church, as well as his neighbors, depended on him to fix their cars, washing machines and other appliances. It seemed that he didn’t know how to say “No” to anyone in need.

In 1963, he was hired as one of the first Black bus drivers for the Metro Transit Authority. Being the people person that he was, the job was perfect for him. In 1982, the Miami Herald Neighbors featured the preaching bus driver in a cover story.

Under the leadership of the late Bishop Walter H. Richardson, Evangelist Edwards was elevated to the role of Elder in the church and was later appointed as the church’s assistant pastor. He was a humble man and never let titles go to his head.

Rather, he served with compassion and humility, continuing to minister to the sick and shut-ins, and doing whatever he could to lead the lost to Christ.

When Bishop Richardson died in January, Elder Edwards became the fourth pastor of The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness). He was 93.

While some thought he was too old to be the pastor of the church, Elder Edwards told the naysayers that the Lord had placed him in the role of pastor and he was determined to obey and follow the leading of the Lord, serving for as long as the Lord said so.

Six months into his leadership role as pastor, Elder Edwards was elevated to Bishop. His consecration service was a joyful time for the Saints, his family and his friends, some of whom traveled from out of state for the celebration.

Bishop Edwards did the work of the Lord until he couldn’t. Just days before his death, he still rejoiced in the Lord and led some of those visiting him in singing some of his favorite songs. One of the songs was, “He Never Has Left Me Alone.”

Then, on Dec. 7, after telling his wife Maxine, “I love you, Baby… We had a wonderful life…”, he went home to be with the Lord.

In addition to his wife, Bishop Edwards is survived by four children, Thomas J. (Margaret), Linda Edwards Glover (Demetris), Phillip A. (Reatha), and Kenneth J. (Tangela), nine grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.

A homegoing service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 23 at New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church, 777 NW 85th St.