John Marshall Edwards

John Marshall Edwards, B.A. ’61, a beloved Texas Baptist pastor, passed away on his 85th birthday, March 12. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1939, he felt called to ministry during a revival in his senior year of high school in Covington, Georgia, where he graduated in 1957.

During his time at Baylor University, Edwards served as president of the Freshman Baptist Student Union Council, president of the Ministerial Alliance and missions chair of the Baptist Student Union Executive Council. He also served as pastor of Mountain Baptist Church in Gatesville, Texas, while studying at Baylor. In 1958, he met Doris Dillard, B.A. ’62, and they married on Aug. 18, 1960. They enjoyed over 63 years of marriage together and provided a legacy of love for their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.

Edwards graduated from Baylor in 1961 with a degree in religion, later earning a Bachelor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1966.

Throughout his career, Edwards served in various pastorates across Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina, leaving a profound impact wherever he went. Notably, in Waco, he founded the renowned “Wholeness of Life” series, drawing hundreds from the community to lunchtime Bible studies. He continued this series in Columbia, South Carolina, with even greater attendance.  

Edwards served as the speaker for the annual mission meetings in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe, Honduras, Guatemala, Indonesia and Kenya. He also contributed his leadership as a trustee at Baylor University and as chair of the board of trustees at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.