A master coon hunter and great ole soul, James Monroe “Buster” Edwards went to that “happy hunting ground” from his residence west of Okolona on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. He was 86. Born on June 30, l937 in the Union Community south of Plantersville to the late George Lee Edwards and Jimmie Lamb Edwards, he and his family moved to Arkansas to farm when he was a young man. Buster was a patriotic American, joined the U. S. Navy and served on a supply ship before being honorably discharged. They eventually moved to the Cleveland, MS area where he began to work for his Uncles doing auto body work. In 1967, Hill Brothers Motors in Okolona recruited him to join their firm. He was a valued employee there until he retired. He then founded B and M Pawn Shop in Aberdeen, which he passed on to his son, Paul, on his final retirement. A great outdoorsman, he revered coon hunting and was the best at it. His dogs over the years were as legendary as he was in the field of coon hunting. He was even known far and wide for the “jewelry” he made from coon parts. Buster planted thousands of trees in his day and love doing woodworking. He loved to fish and was a better than average shade tree philosopher. He and his family were longtime members of the New Hope Methodist Church, now New Hope Community Church. Buster enjoyed life, living, his family, God’s creation and he respected them all.
A service celebrating his life will be held at 3 PM Saturday, Sept. 30., 2023, at New Hope Community Church west of Okolona with close friends, Jackie Moore, Greg Owens and Garland Anderson speaking. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will begin at Noon Saturday at New Hope Church, 2400 CR 413, Okolona. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona is honored to be serving their friends.
Buster is survived by his special friend, loved one, and caregiver, Ilean Warhurst; his sons and their wives, Bruce and Melissa Edwards, Paul and Dixie Edwards, and Mike and Susan Anne Edwards, all of Okolona; 4 grandchildren, Jed-Riley Edwards, Jessie-Marie Edwards, Cole Edwards (Cailon), and Mary-Michael Parker (Wesley); his great-grandchildren, Alden, Bryer, Dusty-Paul, Millee-Kate, Cooper, Mary-Wallace, and Silas; two brothers, George Arthur Edwards (Lydia) of Hurley, MS, and Jesse Edwards of Booneville; a sister, Corrine Hasket of Kentucky; a stepson, Terry Warhurst (Angel) of Corinth; and coon hunting buddies everywhere. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jimmie Edwards, his wife, Martha Jones Edwards who died in 1993, and way too many coon dogs to remember.
Pallbearers will be Adam Johnson, Bruce Pettit, Terry Gaskin, Carson Burcham, Alden Edwards, Bryer Edwards, Lance Belcher, Cole Edwards, and James Henry. Honorary pallbearers will be his coon hunting buddies.
Memorials may be made to the New Hope Cemetery Fund, c/o Joyce Jolly, Okolona, MS 38860.
