Claude Lee Edmonds,Sr.

Reflections of Life Claude Lee Edmonds, Sr. was born May 22, 1947 in Richmond, Virginia to the late Littleton and Vivian Burston Edmonds. Claude spent his early childhood growing up in Southside Richmond developing lifelong friendships. Later, he moved to Churchill where he increased his circle of friends. He was educated in the Richmond Public Schools where he graduated from Armstrong High School in the class of 1965. He was co-captain of the football team earning the Athlete of the year award. Claude was involved in many clubs, to include the National Honor Society, the Science Club, and the Industrial Arts Club. He held the office of Class Homeroom President, Chaplain of the Senior Class, and was voted Most Handsome by class members. Claude was a model student on and off the field, never letting his athletics interfere with his school work and accomplishments. Claude was shy with a deep bass voice that demanded attention which he got without really trying. He regularly attended the Armstrong Walker Alumni Association Breakfast Meetings as well as class reunions meetings. Claude John Morning Star Baptist Church at a young age under the leadership of Reverend Duncan Chavis. He later joined his wife at Fourth Baptist Church where he had been a member for several years serving in the capacity of Personnel Committee Co-Chairman and the Male Usher Board Number 2. He met the love of his life, Wilma “Bunnie” Crew while attending high school. They were voted Class Coupled by their peers; rarely did you see one without the other. Their relationship was so strong that they later married. Next year, they would have been married for 50 years in August. To this union they were blessed with three children, Dedra Edmonds Hampton, Claude Lee Edmonds, Jr., and Brian Michael Edmonds. If you wanted to see Claude’s eyes gleam, just mention his two grandchildren, Madison Lynn Hampton and Brandon Claude Edmonds. Claude worked very hard to keep his family comfortable starting his career at Philip Morris Tobacco Company. He later joined DuPont Textiles where he was employed until he retired after 44 years of service, retiring as Human Resource Manager. He leaves to cherish his memory, not to grieve, wife, Wilma Crew Edmonds, devoted children, Dedra Edmonds Hampton, Claude Lee Edmonds, Jr.( Tisha) and Brian Michael Edmonds, grandchildren, Madison Lynn Hampton and Brandon Claude Edmonds, foster grandchildren, twins Syana and Kiana Lapiene, siblings Littleton Edmonds, Jr., Odessa Edmonds and Christine Rita Edmonds, sisters Gloria B. Christian and Lillie M. Anderson preceded him in death, mother-in-law ,Dorothy Henderson, sisters-in-law, Barbara C. Boone( Joe) and Carolyn C. Lewis, brother-in-law, Roosevelt Crew,Jr.( Sylvia), godsons, Lamar Foreham and Kobie Gilpin and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other friends co-workers, and relatives, among them devoted James A. Harvey and Ralph Dickerson.

Tributes

Claude Lee Edmonds,Sr.

May 22, 1947 - August 12, 2014