Beloved Pastor, Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, and Friend.
Pastor Dr. John L. Edwards an Absentee Shawnee Tribal Member, whose Indian name is “Nikaani Kaapaa: Leader standing in front”; was 79 when he went to be with our Heavenly Father on Good Friday, April 18, 2014. He was born of John and Martha Edwards on January 12, 1935 in Concho, Oklahoma. John is the eldest of seven siblings. Sisters Charlene Whittington of Shawnee, OK. Gilreath Godwin of Knoxville, Iowa. Atheda Fletcher of Oklahoma City, OK. Proceeded in death James Lee Edwards, Glenn W. Edwards and sister Cheryl Kennedy. During high school and college, he excelled in football, track, basketball and baseball. Not only was he a natural athlete he was an academic scholar and received his Doctorate of Education, in 1974. He went on to retire from Department of Interior Indian Affairs in 1986. He became Governor of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, of Shawnee Oklahoma and pastor of the Fellowship American Indian Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma from 1995 to present date. The church is a member of Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. John presently served as an Executive Council Member on AARP, Peacemaker with the Chickasaw Nation District Court and volunteered in many other areas.
Survivors include his wife Tewanna Edwards and granddaughter Polly Anderson both of the home. Daughters ; Sherry and Rev. Allen Colbert of Muskogee, OK; Ramona and husband Jim Nelson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Faun Edwards of Tulsa, OK; Shawnee Edwards of Corrales, New Mexico; Rainee and husband Chuck Manzanares of Pueblo, Colorado. Two Step-daughters; Sonja J. Anderson and Elisha Gouge, of Paducah, Kentucky. Son; Johnny Ladd Edwards of Kansas City, Kansas. Step-son David Leader and Scott Davis of Oklahoma City, OK. Proceeded in death by his Son; Troy Edwards. Surviving Grandchildren; Robert Colbert, Deborah Colbert, Allen Jr & Heather Colbert, Richard Nelson, Michelle Nelson, Michael Nelson, Ashlee Garcia, Ethan Garcia, Ethan Edwards, Gwen Edwards, Amaya Edwards, Eliciana Edwards, Rashawn Farmer, Maurice Edwards, Ashanti Edwards, Amerie Edwards, Eliciana Edwards, Jace Colbert, Isabella Colbert, Teyton Colbert, Jrue King, Lillian Colbert, Dwayne and Ashley Stephens, Johnathan Stephens, Brittany and Michael Egner, Tiffany Gouge and Sonja Rocha. Proceeded in death grandchild Gavain Colbert. Great Grand Children; Avaree Garcia, Kaylee Stephens, Alyssa Kilcrease, Bryanna Gilliam, Ariah and Jacob Gouge. Proceeded in death by Great Grand Children; Isabella D. Row and Freeman Edwards.
The Wake will be held at the Walker Funeral Home, 201 E 45 th Street in Shawnee, OK on the 21 st of April, at 6:00 pm., under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.
Funeral services and final respects will be held at First Baptist Church, 324 West Colorado Ave. Chickasha, OK. on the 22 nd of April at 1:00 pm. Burial will be at Muncrief Cemetery in Ninnekah, OK. Relatives and friends are welcome to send flowers and pay respect at Ferguson Funeral Home 804 West Utah Ave. in Chickasha, Oklahoma.