Rev. Charles Cardwell “Cardy” Edmundson, Jr., 90, of St. Simons joined his Lord and Savior May 4, 2013 surrounded by his beloved daughters at his residence.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he served aboard the USS Cleveland as Quartermaster in the U S Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Following discharge from the Navy, Cardy married the love of his life, Dottie Waldrop of Whigham, Georgia. He graduated from Emory University and Candler School of Theology.
Licensed to preach in 1946, Cardy began his ministry in the South Georgia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church in 1948 on the Midland Circuit. He also served as pastor in Reidsville, Dawson Street (Thomasville), Montezuma and Claxton. From 1969 to 1975, Cardy served as District Superintendent of the Statesboro District. He then served Trinity (Waycross) and St. Simons. In 1983, he served as District Superintendent of the Americus District. Cardy made his final pastoral move to Fitzgerald in 1989, from which he retired to St. Simons in 1993.
During his ministry Cardy was active in Youth Activities as Savannah District Youth Director (1952 to 1956) and served as Dean of Men and Dean of South Georgia Methodist Youth Fellowship Senior Assembly. He also served on the Conference Board of Evangelism, Board of Christian Social Concerns and was vice-president of the Board of Missions. In 1972 he served as Reserve Delegate and Teller at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Listed in WHO'S WHO IN THE METHODIST CHURCH and WHO'S WHO IN RELIGION IN AMERICA, he has served as president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Ministers Conference of Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, and president of the South Georgia Conference Cabinets of Bishop W.R. Cannon and Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald. Cardy had the honor of serving in the cabinets of Bishop John O. Smith, Bishop W.R. Cannon, Bishop Joel McDavid, Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald and Bishop Richard Looney.
Always active in civic affairs in the communities in which he served as pastor, Cardy was president of the Thomasville Exchange Club and Chairman of the Thomas County Association for Mental Health, as well as other numerous civic clubs. He served as a Trustee of Andrew College and was a founding member and the first chaplain of Hospice of the Golden Isles.
Dottie and Cardy were Evangelistic Missioners to the Fiji Islands in 1980, for the launching of the World Methodist Council “Mission to the Eighties” evangelism program. Cardy served as a delegate to the 1981 World Methodist Conference in Hawaii; was the South Georgia United Methodist Representative to the Georgia Christian Council for six years; a member of the Board of Directors of the South Georgia United Methodist Foundation, Inc. He was a director of the Methodist Hour; Trustee of Epworth by-the-Sea; Chairman, South Georgia Conference Committee on Evangelism; Chairman, Winter Campmeeting Committee; Member National Council of Evangelism: Southeastern Jurisdiction Council of Evangelism Leaders; and Bishop’s Task Force on Evangelism.
Rev. Edmundson is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Cardwell Edmundson, Sr. and Carrie Jordan Edmundson and by his wife of 63 years, Mary “Dottie” Edmundson; sisters, Evelyn Sanford and Norma Lewis.
He is survived by three daughters, Linda E. Griffin (Tom) of Montgomery, Al., Charla E. Mobley (Herschel) of Birmingham, Al, and Donna Edmundson (John Versaggi) of Tampa, Fl; Grandchildren, Buffi Baltz, Hal Griffin, Edie Harvey, Charla Brown, Molly Griffin and Cardi Mobley, eight great grandchildren, his sister, Dolly Edmundson Grant of Jacksonville, FL., and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be at 2 p.m. on May 11, 2013, at St. Simons UMC. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2013 at St. Simons UMC Parlor. A private interment was held at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens Tuesday, May 7, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Simons UMC, 624 Ocean Blvd., St. Simons Island, Ga 31522 or Epworth by the Sea, 100 Arthur J Moore Dr., St Simons Island, Ga 31522 or Faith Works , 2911 Altama Ave., Brunswick, Ga 31520.
Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home is serving the family of Rev. Charles Cardwell “Cardy” Edmundson, Jr. Please sign the online guestbook at www.brunswickmemorialpark.com