James Arthur Edmonds

James Arthur Edmonds, born April 2, 1938, peacefully transitioned on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the age of 86. He was the son of the late Margaret ‘Martha’ (Jeffries) Edmonds and Willie H. Edmonds. After his delivery in Virginia, the family transitioned back home to Baltimore, MD. James was educated in the Baltimore City school system and graduated from Douglas High. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he would return to Maryland and work for the Department of Corrections. While working full time, he took classes in criminology and pursued a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In 1968, he joined the Baltimore City Police Department, and was later recognized by Claude Profili, Lodge 2157, when he received the First Annual Award for Policeman of the Year for his outstanding achievement in law enforcement. Mr. Edmonds would go on to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Baltimore and immediately accepted the next challenge of enrolling into a master’s program. In May of 1979, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration. In September of 1979, he took the next step within the police department and was promoted. Patrolman Edmonds (badge 2349) became Detective Edmonds. In March of 2000, after being recognized as a Police Agent in the Baltimore City Police Department for 32 years and serving devotedly alongside two Police Commissioners (Commissioner Edward Woods and Commissioner Thomas Frazier), James Edmonds retired and transitioned with Commissioner Frazier to Washington, DC. where he received a Schedule C Appointee in the administration of President William J. Clinton in the U.S. Department of Justice. Following his time at the Department of Justice, he returned to the State of Maryland and served in the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, retiring finally in 2011. Beyond the accolades of husband, father, uncle, cousin, and friend, James also achieved a Governor’s Citation, personal blessings of Pope John Paul II and held membership with the Fraternal Order of Police. God saw fit to bless James Edmonds beyond measure. To be blessed beyond measure is to experience the extreme goodness of God. Throughout life, James remained committed to Christ and more importantly his faith remained consistent To live with the memories are his wife, Sandra Edmonds; daughter, Amanda Edmonds; nieces, Suzanne “Carolyne” Edmonds, Pamela Edmonds, Ariana April Davenport (Paul Sr.); nephews, Charles Harmon (Paula), Darrell Harmon (Andrea), Omar Harmon (Waynette); sisters-in-law, Jennifer Harmon and Mary Wilson; brothers-in-law, Yancy Carrigan (Gloria) and Odysee “Mac” Carrigan Jr.; great nephews, David Edmonds-Carty Jr., Paul Davenport Jr., Daniel Edmonds, Dylan Edmonds-Carty, Milan Capers, Darius Davenport; great niece, Alessandra Edmonds; great-great nieces; nephew-in-Christ, Franklin Adoo; as well as cousins, additional extended family, and many closely devoted friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Willie Edmonds; his brother, Willie H. Edmonds Jr.; his niece, Nancy Edmonds and his nephew, Willie “Rick” H. Edmonds III.

Tributes

James Arthur Edmonds

April 2, 1938 - April 3, 2024