Edwards remembered as champion for downtrodden

Two weeks ago Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert knew Lonzy Edwards as a political opponent, but on Sunday he spoke of him as a friend before hundreds of people.

Reichert was among several community leaders to eulogize Edwards at a memorial service at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, where Edwards was pastor.

Edwards, also an attorney, author and businessman, died at his home Friday. He was 67.

Edwards served on the Bibb County Commission for two terms. He was running against Reichert for mayor but dropped out recently due to an undisclosed illness. One of Edwards’ last public appearances was April 12 when he and Reichert held a debate at the Douglass Theatre. A week later, Edwards announced he was suspending his campaign due to undisclosed health reasons.

“Though he was my opponent, he was my friend, and we had a good conversation down at the Douglass Theatre, the night we had our debate,” Reichert said. “Anybody that saw the debate, I think, would be pleased and proud that it was carried out with dignity, point and counterpoint, but stay focused on the issues, and that was Lonzy Edwards.”

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop said he and Edwards became friends when the two ran for Congress in 1992.

“He dedicated his life to helping the downtrodden to reach their full potential,” Bishop said. “He was a voice for the voiceless. He gave hope to the hopeless. He never tried to do what was popular. He always tried to do what was right.”

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said that when Edwards was a commissioner, he was known to be tight with a dollar. But one area where Edwards always insisted that the Sheriff’s Office spend more money was crime prevention.

“We always added a little bit more every year to make Lonzy happy,” Davis said. “Lonzy was a true public servant. Lonzy made a difference in this community.”

Sam Hart, who served as chairman of the County Commission, also touted Edwards as a champion of the downtrodden.

“He would do all he had and give all he had to make sure there was equity,” Hart said.

The sanctuary where the service held seated 300 people and was packed well before the service started, with extra seating added. About a hundred more people watched a broadcast of the service downstairs at the church.

A graveside service will be held at noon Monday at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church cemetery in Sparta, where Edwards is from.

This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Edwards remembered as champion for downtrodden."