William Jackson "Jack" Edwards, III

William Jackson (Jack) Edwards III, loving husband, father, grandfather,great-grandfather, former member of Congress and civic leader died Friday, September 27, 2019 from pancreatic cancer. He was 91.When asked what kind of world he would like to leave his great-grandchildren he answered, “My hope is that my great grandchildren will grow up in a country where civility will have been returned to common discourse and to the efforts to  solve the country’s problems. My hope is they will be a part of a process of coming together rather than pulling apart. My hope is that they will understand that the real answers are found through compromise and cooperation and not at the extreme edges of human thought. “That is my hope for the future. This is my hope for the great grandchildren, for the country and for all who exist in it, that we will come back to a time of civility in peace in working together for the good of mankind.” Edwards served in Congress from 1965-1985. Afterwards, he joined the Mobile law firm of Hand Arendall. Edwards had a distinguished career in public life. He served under five presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Ronald Reagan’s first term, and as a leader in the U.S. House, he met with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan on a weekly basis. When in Congress, he was on the Appropriations Committee where he was senior on defense and also was a member of the transportation subcommittee. Returning to Mobile, Edwards continued his public service as Chairman of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the boards of the Mobile Opera, Mobile Economic Development Council and many others. He was selected Mobilian of the Year in 1987. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System from 1988 to 1999 and was President Pro Tem of the Board when he retired. He served on the Board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority from 1987 to 1996 and, in 1988, served as Co-Chairman of the Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure, known as BRAC I, because it was the first such commission. In recent years, Edwards devoted himself to constitutional reform, education, the environment and economic development in the Mobile area. In addition to the law firm, Edwards also served on the corporate boards of The Southern Company, Holcim, Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, QMS, Inc, Dravo Corporation and the Aerospace Corporation. Edwards is survived by his wife, Jolane Vander Sys Edwards of Fairhope and Mobile; a daughter, Lane Edwards Weavil (Richard) of Mobile; a son, Richard Arnold Edwards (Robert) of Tacoma, Washington; grandchildren, Garland Aldrich Weavil Sanders (Michael) and Robert Cameron Weavil, both of Mobile; great grandchildren, Anne Hastings Weavil, Elizabeth Lane Sanders and Michael Donaghey Sanders III, all of Mobile. The family wishes to express profound appreciation to his loving caregivers: Corey and Nicole Sledge and their son, Devon; Martha Heard and Michelle Mason.   Funeral services will take place Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 545 S. Mobile Street, Fairhope, with a reception following in the parish hall. Visitation will take place at the church at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Fairhope - 545 S. Mobile St. Fairhope, AL 36532; The Weeks Bay Foundation, 11401 US98, Fairhope 36532, or to the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak Street, Fairhope. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO RD. FAIRHOPE, AL. 36532 (251) 990-7775