EDWARD WILLIAM FUDGE

1944-2017

Edward William Fudge fell asleep in Jesus Christ on November 25, 2017, at the age of 73, dressed in the righteousness of Christ by grace through faith. He was born on July 13, 1944, in a country clinic in Lester, Alabama to Benjamin (Bennie) Lee Fudge and Sybil Short Fudge. His mother was born and raised in Africa as the daughter of missionaries. His father was a gospel preacher and a Christian publisher. Edward was born six weeks premature and at first could not take nourishment. God spared his life in answer to his parents’ prayers and had his merciful hand on him for the rest of his life.

His greatest earthly treasure was his wonderful family. He is survived by Sara Faye Locke Fudge, wife of 50 years and his greatest encourager and critic; daughter Melanie Anne Simpson and husband Michael of Katy, Texas; son Jeremy Locke Fudge and wife Kristy of Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren: Julia Taylor Simpson and Ezekiel Locke Simpson of Katy, and Brynna Hollis Fudge, Addison Belle Fudge, Calley Marie Fudge, and Delaynie Michelle Fudge of Dallas; mother Sybil Fudge Dewhirst (Ala.), brothers Henry and wife Jo Ann (Ala.), Robert and wife Dianne (Ala.), Benjamin and wife Susan (Calif.), and Paul and wife Melonie (Fla.), sister Nancy and husband Raymond (Ala.), and a host of other relatives and friends.

Himself a sinner saved by grace, Edward’s life ambition was to serve God and to bring glory to Jesus Christ. He started preaching in 1960 as a junior in high school and preached and taught the Bible for the rest of his life. Edward graduated from Athens Bible School, Florida College, and Abilene Christian University, where he earned two degrees in biblical languages. He attended Covenant Theological Seminary and Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo.

By God’s enabling, he taught and preached in Christian churches across the denominational spectrum and lectured in Christian seminaries and universities in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. For 21 years he produced an internationally-distributed email devotional called gracEmail. He wrote numerous Christian books and published articles in Christianity Today and other popular and scholarly journals.

Edward’s church family since 1982 was Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston, where he served as a Bible teacher and for 18 years as an elder. With that congregation’s moral support and encouragement, he then ministered across the Christian church. In the providence of God, Edward earned a law degree from the University of Houston in 1988 and for the next 29 years, he practiced law with Jenkens & Gilchrist, Simmons & Fletcher, and The Lanier Law Firm.

A memorial service will be held in Houston, Texas on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Bering Drive Church of Christ, 1910 Bering Drive, Houston, TX 77057.

Special thanks to Angel, Khine, Vanessa, Yemi, Nola, and especially Daniel for their loving and diligent care over this last year. In lieu of flowers, Edward would have appreciated donations to Lifeline Chaplaincy (http:// www.lifelinechaplaincy.org); but equally so, Edward would have been pleased if you helped a missionary, fed the poor or cared for the hurting, for that was his heart.

In God’s own time, Edward will be resurrected with all the saved in a glorified immortal body to live forever in the new heavens and earth. All glory to God! Come, Lord Jesus.