Story published: 6/16/2005

By Jim Wozniak
Erwin Bureau Chief

UNICOI — Kim Edwards was working at J.D.’s Market in Erwin eight years ago when her life changed dramatically for the better.

As she performed her duties one night, Mark Edwards, a 32-year-old longtime armed forces member with a love of children, visited his sister, who was also an employee there. That sister, Teresa Garland, introduced Kim and Mark, and it was love at first sight. Two years later, they were married.

Mrs. Edwards had been married before and had pledged never to go down the aisle again. But when she met Edwards, it was a sign she would have to revise her plans. One part of his personality that impressed her was that he still kept in touch with his stepson, Jerod Bailey, from his first marriage.

"He raised that boy like his own and he loved him like he did his own son," Mrs. Edwards said from her home in Unicoi, which she shared with her parents and husband. "He treated everybody equally. To be honest with you, I believe he was sent to me from God because he changed my life and my daughter’s life and all my family’s life."

Last Thursday, Mrs. Edwards’ world crumbled when military representatives visited her at work at the Unicoi County Courthouse and told her that her husband had died in his sleep while he was serving in Iraq.

It’s unclear what caused his death, but Mrs. Edwards has been told it was likely a heart attack. She said he had complained about heartburn and pain in his stomach the night before he died. Edwards was quarantined a week earlier because of a virus that left him dehydrated.

Edwards was a member of Company H, 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, which was based in Erwin. He had been stationed in Iraq since November but was home about a month ago on a pass.

Unicoi Funeral Home employees drove to Knoxville Wednesday night to pick up Edwards’ body, which was being delivered by plane. With assistance from a military escort, they brought the body back here for the visitation and funeral today. An honor guard will stand at both ends of the casket during the visitation.

Edwards, who was 40, will receive a military burial Friday at U.S. National Cemetery, Mountain Home, that will include the playing of taps and a 21-gun salute.

It marks the end of a military career that began when Edwards was 17 and joined the Army, and continued when his term ended four years later and he joined the National Guard.

In honor of his death, flags were lowered to half-staff in Unicoi and Erwin. Fellow employees in the courthouse, where Mrs. Edwards works, have set up a fund at First Tennessee Bank to help her.

According to Rhonda Bradley, whose husband, Sgt. First Class Bill Bradley, served with Edwards in Iraq and Erwin, members of the 278th unit were assembled for a memorial Monday where Edwards died. At the ceremony, members swapped stories about him and showed movies, and bagpipes and "Amazing Grace" were played.

Mrs. Bradley has fond memories of Edwards.

"(He was) one of the kindest persons you’d ever want to meet,' she said. 'He’d do anything for you. Him and my husband have been friends for over 20 years. He said, 'Mark's my wing man.' Mark's just a very dependable person."

Edwards made such an impression on his future wife’s family that her father, Kenneth Dayton, recommended she date him. When he moved in after the wedding, he went to work on beautifying the back yard, which now has an array of foliage.

"I loved him just like my own son," Dayton said. "He was just such a good person. He took good care of me and my family, Mark did. He really cared for us."

In addition to his stepson, Mrs. Edwards said her husband was kind to her daughter, Whitney, and planned to adopt her when he returned from Iraq in November. She said he spoiled her, which was the only bone of contention between the couple.

Edwards, a former Little League coach and Sunday school teacher, also had a son, Drew, who is about to enter his senior year of high school. He was one of four children, and one of his sisters, Brenda Herrell, said his death has been hard for the family.

"Knowing he's in heaven with mommy and daddy kind of helps," she said.

Herrell and Mrs. Edwards noted his Christianity and his role as a Sunday school teacher. Mrs. Edwards referred to him as a “Christian soldier.” His daily ritual was to read the Bible, including the night before he died.

Matt Dayton, who is Mrs. Edwards’ brother, remembered him as a peaceful person.

"He never came to you with any problems," Dayton said. "Any time you had a problem, you could go to him, and he’d listen to you all day long. The man was a miracle to this family, and he brought this family together. In my eyes, he’s more of a man than I’ll ever be."

Story Copyright to Johnson City Press