James (Jim) Lee Edwards, 80, of Cabot, passed away Tuesday, June 8, 2021.  He was born October 31, 1940 in Marion, Illinois to the late Herman Lee and Marjorie June Edwards.  Jim was a retired Baptist minister who had served as pastor of several churches in Mississippi and Arkansas.  He served fourteen years as an Associational Missionary for the Caroline Baptist Association and retired in 2004 after serving as the Director of Missions.  After his retirement, he concentrated on the Intentional Interim Ministry, helping many congregations.  Jim was a top-graduating student of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982.   He served on the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Executive Board for seven years, serving as chairman of the Finance Committee for four years.  Jim was also a Lifeway Ministries conflict mediator, a ministry multiplier and deacon trainer.  Jim and his wife, Clemmie, trained many deacons and their spouses through the country and Europe.

Jim proudly served his country in the United States Navy attaining the rank of Master Chief Personnelman and retired after twenty-one years.  During his naval career, he received numerous awards, commendations and medals.  Jim retired from his naval career in 1979.

Jim married the love of his life, Clemmie Nell Johnson, on December 4, 1960 and together they raised two wonderful sons, Jimmy and Timothy.  From their happy and Christ-honoring marriage came five grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.  Jim was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor and friend and will be dearly missed by so many people.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Wayne and Thomas Edwards.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of sixty years, Clemmie; two sons, Jimmy Lee (Stephanie) Edwards and Timothy Jay (Susan) Edwards; five grandchildren, Tasha Brooks (Jared) Turner, Zachory Adam (Shayla) Edwards, Jacob Matthew (Ashlea) Edwards, Jessica Blaine (Brian) Elwell and Halle Nicole Edwards; thirteen great-grandchildren, Jimmy "JJ" Glen Rhine, Jr., Masen Walker (Arion) Rhine,  Huston Brooks Edwards, Lydia Nell Veazey, Brody Thomas Turner, Blade Elliott Turner, Devon McDonald, Khristian McDonald, Jaiden Elizabeth Edwards, Lillian Edwards, Madeline Edwards, Briana Elwell, and Kensley Grace Elwell; brother-in-law, Howard (Sandra) Johnson, as well as many extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12, 2021 at First Baptist Church-Cabot.  Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  The family suggests donations in memory of James Lee Edwards be made to Arkansas Baptist Children's Home, 10 Remington Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205 or at https://arkansasfamilies.org/ .  Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.