Dr. James Edward "Ed" North

Dr. James Edward “Ed” North, age 84, resident of Somerville, Tennessee and husband of Sallie North, departed this life Saturday morning, January 27, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett, Tennessee.

Ed was born September 14, 1939 in West Monroe, Louisiana, the son of the late Joseph Paul North and Irene Lee North. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with his Bachelor of Arts degree, then continued his education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Master of Theology. He then graduated from University of Southern Mississippi with his Master of Counseling and from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with his Doctor of Ministry.

Dr. North served as Dean of Men and Instructor in Bible at Clarke Baptist College in Mississippi, two terms on Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, two terms on Executive Board of Arkansas Baptist Convention and Mission Tours to East Africa and South Africa. He also served as Trustee of Arkansas Moral and Civic Foundation and was the Founder and Trustee of Providence Home for Unwed Mothers. He served two terms on the Board of Trustees at Union University and served as Trustee and Chairman of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, was chosen to preach the Convention Sermon at the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 1991 and was a member of R.G. Lee Society of Fellows.

Dr. North served as a pastor for many years, serving in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee. He was very involved in the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home Ministry and enjoyed fishing in his free time.

Dr. North is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sallie North; two daughters, Christie Reid (Todd) and Julia Reeves (Ken); his son, Johnathan North (Ali); his sister, Nancy Glover (Fred); and seven grandchildren, Noah McClain Reid (Mallory), Samuel Harrison Reid, William Edward Reeves, Avery Ayers North, Jackson Edward North, Jacob Paul Reeves and Sawyer James North.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Roberts and Noma Jean Baskin and his brother, Joseph Paul North, Jr.

Funeral Services for Dr. North were held at 12 noon Friday, February 2, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Somerville with Bro. Stan Smith, pastor of the church, officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Dale Aldridge, Ed Karcher, Ron Lancaster, Charles Threadgill, Jimmy Jordan and Tommy Perkins. An honorary pallbearer was Wesley Parks.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Mission: Dignity, 2401 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX 75201-1498.