July 17, 1936 – Aug. 26, 2017

NATCHEZ — Services for Dr. Norris Allen Edney Sr., 81, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Rose Hill Baptist Church, 607 ½ Madison St.

Burial will follow at Watkins Street Cemetery under the direction of Robert D. Mackel and Sons Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 5:30 p.m. today at Rose Hill Baptist Church, followed by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. from 5:30 to 7 p.m. family hour. Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Norris Allen Edney was born July 17, 1936, the third son of Willie Albert Edney and Elizabeth G. Edney. In 1957, he met his help mate and was married in 1959, and to this union four children were born.

Mr. Edney was a member of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church No. 2, associate member of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a member of a number of professional and civic organizations.

He was a graduate of Natchez Junior College, Tougaloo College, Antioch College, Atlanta University and Michigan State University. His professional career spans more than 40-years in the teaching and administration arena where he touched the lives of many and impacted the future of too many young people to personally mention.

During his career, Mr. Edney served as president of Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC,) dean of graduate school, dean of arts and sciences, dean of nursing school, served two terms as interim president of Alcorn State University, president of the Natchez-Adams School Board and Mississippi State School Board.

Mr. Edney was father to four but daddy to many. His spirit and warm heart will be missed and the void felt near and far. He was a strong man of wisdom and giving. He gave so much of himself to make others better. His legacy in the educational arena is one that will forever be etched in the fabrics of our nation. He was a giant.

Mr. Edney was preceded in death by parents; two brothers, Cartrell and Travis; mother-in-love, Julia Slaughter Clark; father-in-love, Horace DeFrance Clark; one daughter, Mornita Shyrelle; and one brother-in-love, William Horace Clark.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Lillian Clark Edney; three sons, Norris Allen Edney and wife, Danuielle, of Clinton, Albert DeFrance Edney and wife, Teresa, of Dardenne Prairie, Mo., and Alvin Edney and wife, Shala, of Brandon; seven grandchildren, Norris Allen Edney and wife, Adrainne, of Oxford, Jaylon Trevon of Jackson, Alvin Darcell Edney II and Ava Clarke Edney of Brandon, Albert DeFrance Edney II, Charity Faith Edney and Grace Hope Edney of Dardenne Prairie; two great-grandchildren, Norris and Nora of Oxford; one niece, Adrain’ Bocage of New Orleans; three nephews, Cartrell, Michael and Anthony of Los Angeles; one sister-in-love of Caledonia, Mich.; one brother-in-love, Theodore Leonard and wife, Hattie, of Elkhart, Ind.; two special cousins, Mary Harris and Kenny Ray Stewart; one godsister, Mary Ida Stanton of Natchez; special friend, Morris Dunbar of Detroit; and a number of cousins and friends.

Memorials may be sent to Alcorn State University Foundation in memory of Mornita Shyrelle Edney or to a charity of choice.