Charles “Randall” Edwards, age 82, passed away at Hinkle Hospice House in Lexington, North Carolina on June 26, 2026. Randall was a resident of Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community in Thomasville where he and his wife, Dorann, resided for over 15 years, and where he once served as the president of the Residents’ Association.

Randall was born on September 7, 1943 to Herbert and Velma Hines Edwards. Randall grew up in Goldsboro, NC where he graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1961. He attended Duke University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1965. He went on to Emory University where he earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1971. Following his time as a school psychologist in Gwinnett County, GA, Randall moved with his wife and two daughters to Middlesboro, KY, and then, in 1981, to Thomasville, NC. He worked for Davidson County Mental Health for 20 years, including serving as Director for over a decade.

A life-long Methodist, Randall grew up in St. Luke United Methodist Church in Goldsboro. A highlight of his college years was a Methodist Youth Caravan trip to Europe led by pastor Troy Barrett. He enjoyed telling stories of the group’s passage to England aboard the Queen Elizabeth. He was also active in the Civil Rights movement, serving in the Laurinburg area with the NC Volunteers who helped organize rural community efforts against racial disparities.

Upon moving to Atlanta for graduate school, Randall met his future wife, Dorann Lewis, through a fellowship program at Decatur First United Methodist Church. They married in 1968 and had two daughters, Gloria and Melanie. Randall’s civic and religious service included serving as a Kiwanis Club president, leading Sunday School classes, and serving as a lay leader at Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville. In recognition of his service to the community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, he was appointed to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Randall loved the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, canoeing, whitewater rafting, and sailing in his small “Mayflower” sailboat. He enjoyed Camp Don Lee, first as a camper, later as a counselor, and finally by bringing his wife and children to “family camp” for many years. Randall was an avid Disney fan, treating his wife, family, and extended family to Disney World vacations and cruises over the years. After retirement, Randall also enjoyed travels including trips to Williamsburg, Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe with friends and family. He was an electronics enthusiast, participating in “kickstarter” campaigns to support inventors of new gadgets.

Randall is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Dorann Lewis Edwards; his daughters, Gloria Thornton and her husband, Gary, and Melanie Edwards and her wife, Elizabeth Fouts; his brother, Herbert Jackson "Jack" Edwards; and his four cherished grandchildren, Natalia, Ash, Ryan, and Genevieve. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Velma Hines Edwards; his brother, Liston Gerald “Jerry” Edwards; and his sister, Sandra Edwards Parrott. He leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and, as an avid photographer, a lifetime of cherished photographs.

A memorial service for Randall will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community, 100 Hedrick Drive, Thomasville, NC, followed by visitation with the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice. Organizations with special meaning to Randall include Piedmont Crossing, Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville, and Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe, NC.