WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Retired business veteran O’Brien Edwards died peacefully right here early in the early morning of Aug. 12 at age 87 of all-natural results in. He used his full 41-12 months home furniture occupation at Broyill Furnishings.
Edwards, who retired in 2006, held several sales and management positions throughout Broyhill’s heyday, which include course of Broyhill’s preliminary impartial seller program, which finally grew to contain about 700 merchants. He also had a hand in landmark collections these kinds of as Attic Heirlooms and Fontana that stay among the furnishings industry’s all-time ideal-marketing situation items collections.
Edwards was born June 26, 1934, to the late Elmer and Amanda Edwards. After graduation from Chocowinity Large University in Chocowinity, N.C., He graduated from East Carolina University in 1956, majoring in Bodily Education and learning and Heritage, and was picked out into the Who’s Who Among Pupils in Schools and Universities. Immediately after graduation, he joined the United States Army in 1957, serving for two several years in Honolulu.
Edwards joined Broyhill in April 1965 as a income trainee in japanese North Carolina, and 8 months later on was assigned a income territory in South Florida. Edwards received Broyhill’s Salesman of the Year award a few periods, and obtained the Southeast Regional Salesman of the Yr award four consecutive many years in advance of moving into administration. He calculated owning attended over 150 home furniture marketplaces all more than the nation.
O’Brien Edward’s son Bryan Edwards is vice president of household revenue and normal manager for leather-based and movement at Bernhardt Furnishings. He mentioned his father leaves a relatives legacy in the business. Bryan Edwards’ son Thomas Edwards represents Hickory Chair in California, Arizona and Nevada sister Barbara Lynn Rozenboom, formerly with Bassett, is a Kendall College graduate and freelance furniture designer and his brother-in-regulation and Barbara Lynn’s husband, Doug Rozenboom, is president of A.R.T. Home furniture. Their combined 71 many years of field provider served prolong O’Brien Edwards’ four-10 years-in addition contributions.
“It’s a celebration of how wonderful this field is, how we’re all branches from our dad’s legacy,” Bryan Edwards claimed.
Edwards stated a copy of Home furniture Right now grew to become a “family heirloom” of types. “One of his proudest moments, I consider it was 1985, was when he created the go over of Furnishings Nowadays during sector even though offering a eating place to Art Van Elslander,” he explained, referring to late Artwork Van Household furniture founder and Furniture Corridor of Fame member.
O’Brien Edwards’s survivors consist of his sister, Frankie Edwards son, O’Brien Edwards Jr. and daughters Roslyn Edwards Foreman and Barbara Lynn Edwards Rozenboom and 6 grandchildren. Edwards’ wife and sweetheart of 61 a long time, Jill Sutton Edwards, died in November last yr.
Funeral preparations will be conducted by Paul Funeral Residence, with a support at Oakdale Cemetery in Washington, N.C., August 21 at 11 a.m. On the net condolences might be provided to the household by traveling to paulfuneralhome.com.
