Jason Ray Edwards February 15 1980 October 16 2005

Edwards for Dist 14 Arkansas 2008

In Loving Memory of Our Son

Jason Ray Edwards

Born 15 February 1980 At Portsmouth Naval Hospital

Died : 16 October 2005 In Zion, Illinois

At Rest in Gillett Cemetery Gillett Arkansas

This is the last entry he made into his computer

What I hope to accomplish at The Illinois Institute of Art

By Jason Ray Edwards

When I sit and think of what I want to accomplish from your establishment I just look at where I am at in my life. I’m 25 years old with only a little college education. Where I live in a one bedroom house with squirlles chewing holes in my ceiling, hoping the weather stays nice. I work at my old highschool as a janitor. When I say it, it is a humbling experience cleaning after others. It really gets you to think and want more for your life.

What I want to do with my life is to become a penciler in the comic book industry. As I think about it ever since I was a kid and I picked up my first issue I was hooked. I just loved the artistry. The characters, the detail in the art work is just amazing. It just captured my attention and since then that is just what I want to do with my life. It’s really an unappreciated form of art. To be realistic I know the industry is really hard to get into. So I have a back up plan. I want to get my teaching certificate. This steams from a lot of great teachers I have had in the past, but one will always be at the top of the bunch, Ms. Bonds. She helped me when I was about to fail 7^th grade English. She pushed and gave me support when I needed it. She never gave up on me and that got me to want to do my best. Because of that I also want to do that for someone else.

Taking the tour last Saturday got me to see with a chance I could reach my goals. Everything that I saw just finally opens my eyes to all possibilities and can be at my fingers. I just don’t want to let this chance slip through my fingers. I just want to grab a hold of this opportunity and not let go. What I’m trying to say and ask for is a chance. So please give me a chance to prove and to make a better life for myself. In closing what do I want to accomplish at AI is to take this opportunity and make something of myself. Thank you for your time.

A Fathers added note: No Son thank you and God for your time.

In Loving Memory of Jason Ray Edwards

                        Feb 15 1980     -   Oct 16 2005

                           Endings never come

What is there to say                                  You’ve come, you’ve lived
That others have not said                         You’ve had to move on
What is there for us to do                         When you have a precious Soul
In your Stead                                           Endings never come
Live
Is all that we can                                      We have lost you
Knowing full well                                    Our hearts know the pain
I knew a great man                                  At night in bed we cry
                                                                 Our pillows hold the stains
Death is all there is                                 Natural are these tears
at least it is to some
But within our memories                       To us one of the best now gone
Endings never come                                You didn’t leave us
                                                               Only went home
Never forgotten
Your tell-tale laugh                                  You travel now to the
                                                                    Alpha- Omega
Never unseen                                           The morning sun
your pencils path                                     Within Gods Kingdom
Never unheard                                         Endings never come
your cars distant roar
Never forgotten
That you made us more
                                                                 By:   Keith Alan Baker
Missed and Loved
By me and everyone                                        18 Oct 05
But within our hearts
Endings never comes

We all shall live on
With you by our sides
We all are just a little better
Because you touched our lives
You live on
Because the rest of us do
Your compassion, trust, and love
The Jason we all Knew

The Author Keith Baker was more than a brother to our Son. They Both wanted to be in the Army together.. Keith was enlisted and was Serving our Country in Kuwait when he got the news. When he heard It tore him up and all he was able to do to maintain was to write the beautiful poem to Jason.

Jason was not allowed to enlist because of a seizure disorder. Jason went on to be an Arts Student at the Chicago Arts Institute. He was self reliant and had the pride of a young man who was pursuing his dream to become an Artist. His works still line the Halls of his old High School.

Two days after purchasing his Arts and school supplies and being on top of the world for a brief moment he succumbed to his seizure disorder and passed on to the waiting arms of Jesus while in his sleep. I must proudly add as a Father that Jason was the perfect son, He had no illegal substance in his body .

The Loss of a Child is a life changing event that will clear up any ideas you have about what is important in Life and what to live for each day.

Jason was Like the majority of our Children of the Delta. He had to Leave and stay away from his home to realize his dreams. This Delta owes us more.