Services for Ottis O. Edmonds, better known as Big O, of Summit,are 2 p.m. Friday, May 20 at Tangipahoa Baptist Church in Summitwith burial in the church cemetery. Hartman Funeral Home of McCombis in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is today from 5-9 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. until2 p.m. at the church.

Mr. Edmonds, 62, died May 18, 2005, at LifeCare Hospital inKenner, La. He was born in Longview on Nov. 15, 1942, to Lonnie andJessie Mae Ivy Edmonds.

He was a loving father, husband, brother, grandfather andbrother in Christ. He was a member of Tangipahoa Baptist Churchwhere he was a deacon. He was licensed to preach on Jan. 30, 2005,by the Tangipahoa Baptist Church. He served three months as asupply preacher at New Hope Protestant Methodist Church. He taughtSunday school for most of his life. He actively participated in layrenewals, park ministries and jail ministries. He held Wednesdaynight services at Camellia Estates. He witnessed everywhere he wenttelling anyone he met about Jesus. He loved to sing about the loveof Jesus. He wrote several songs which God gave him and released aCD entitled “Lock Me Up With Jesus.”

He enjoyed hunting and white perch fishing. After retiring fromIllinois Central Gulf Railroad, he became an avid cattle and hayfarmer.

He was dedicated to his church family and friends and activelyparticipated in the building of Tangipahoa Baptist Church FamilyLife Center.

Preceding him in death were his parents; an infant daughter,Barbara Kay Edmonds; his brothers, L.E. Edmonds Jr., Burl and Jack;and a sister, Darlene Hutson.

Survivors are his wife, Barbara Welch Edmonds, of Summit; hisdaughter, Lisa Ann Didon and her husband, E.J., of Summit; hissons, Neal Edmonds and his wife, Beth, and Roger Keith Edmonds, allof Summit; his sisters, Catherine Newsome, of Little Rock, Ark.,Evelena Thrash and her husband, William, of Decatur, and CharlsieAnn Keene and her husband, Nelson, of McComb; 12 grandchildren,Kristen, Seth, Jacob and Sara Beth Edmonds, Joseph, Miranda, Anahand Joshua Edmonds, Brandi, Justin and Michael Didon, all ofSummit, and Derek Beard, of McComb; and numerous nieces, nephewsand friends.

Pallbearers will be Larry Chambers, Jimmy Daniels, CurtisEdmonds, Harrell Sharkey, Walter Chisholm, Wayne Cooksey, RobertCockerham, Derek Beard, Ralph Wicker and Noel Andrews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Nunnery, Charlie Tudor,Hilton Caston and Hubert Deer.

Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Village, Gideonsor Tangipahoa Baptist Church Building Fund.