Edward Britt

Edward McPhail Britt, 86, of Concord, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at Atrium Health Cabarrus.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Forest Hill United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends from 10:30 am - 11:45 am prior to the service.

Ed was born in Warsaw, NC, on May 31, 1936. He was the son of Stacy Herring Britt and Eula Lee Britt Phillips who preceded him in death. He attended Riverside Military Academy, which he fondly told stories of before moving to Concord with his family in 1953. He attended Concord HS for his senior year and made the football team for a coach who doubted his ability to start. He met the love of his life, Janice D. Bean, just prior to graduation when he asked her to attend the senior prom with him. He graduated in 1954 and then went on to attend the University of North Carolina for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served proudly for two years as a corpsman at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Ed married his love, Janice, on June 1, 1957. He loved God and his family very much. One of his greatest joys was gathering with his family as much as possible especially as his family grew over the years. Ed and Janice enjoyed traveling to the beaches of the Carolinas and the NC mountains. He enjoyed fishing, having learned from his father, and passed that along to his kids and grandchildren. He was a strong swimmer and especially loved floating in the ocean. He was fond of the NC mountain air and spending time there. Ed and Janice enjoyed “taking plane rides” as he called it to Texas to see family, visit the Alamo where a distant relative fought, and see other sites. One of his favorite pastimes was watching Carolina basketball and football.

He devoted 44 years to working in Memorial Cemetery Services. He was a member of the NC Cemetery Association and served as president for one year. During his career, he also owned two memorial cemetery parks in Marion and Elkin, NC. He loved helping and caring for others.

He was a longtime member of Forest Hill UMC serving as lay leader at one point. After retirement, he became active in the Narrow Gate ministry program which serves the local community. He truly enjoyed the people they served!
He was a member of Stokes Lodge AM & FM and served in the roles of both secretary and master. He went on to receive his 50-year pin for membership and service.

He is survived by his wife Janice Bean Britt, his two sisters, JoAnne Paulin of Wilmington, NC, Betty Martin and husband Jim of Shelby, NC, daughter Kim Britt Tsuruta and husband Jun of Dallas, TX, son Marc of Gold Hill, NC, and Robin Widenhouse Jordan of Concord whom he loved like a daughter. His grandchildren who loved him immensely are Ashley Parham and husband Chris of China Grove, NC, Joshua Britt and wife Jessica of Gold Hill, NC, Kayla Britt Springer and husband Jason of Stanfield, NC, and Kinsey Tsuruta currently of Dallas, TX. He was Papaw to great grandchildren Logan and Emily Parham, Brayden and Ayvah Springer, Grayden Britt and arriving soon Waylon McCoy Britt. He is also survived by nieces and nephews that he cared for and loved dearly.