Reidsville Police Administrative Lieutenant Lesley Francis Edmonds Died Wednesday

Reidsville, NC -- A nearly 25-year veteran of the Reidsville Police Department passed away Wednesday at his home.

Lesley "Lee" Francis Edmonds, 46, died of apparent natural causes, according to Major Abner Bullins of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department.

Edmonds, who served as the Reidsville Police Department's Administrative Lieutenant, had been with the City since March of 1987.

Mayor James K. Festerman announced Edmonds' passing at the beginning of the Reidsville City Council meeting Wednesday afternoon. City staff was still learning of Edmonds' death as the meeting began.

Mayor Festerman, who hired Edmonds as a patrol officer when Festerman was police chief, asked everyone to keep the Edmonds family in their thoughts and prayers.

Councilman William Hairston, a retired Captain with the Reidsville Police and a co-worker, made the motion to lower the flags in front of City Hall and the Police Department at half staff until sunset on the day of Edmonds' funeral. The motion was unanimously passed by the City Council.

Edmonds' funeral has been set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Reidsville Christian Church, where he was a member. Visitation will be Friday night from 6-8 p.m. at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

"The citizens of Reidsville have lost an invaluable police officer who was dedicated to the well-being and safety of our citizens," Mayor Festerman said today. "But the City of Reidsville family has lost a friend and co-worker who can never be replaced and will be sorely missed."

Police Chief Edd Hunt said, "Lt. Lee Edmonds was an outstanding police officer who has many accomplishments to his credit. He was service oriented and assisted our citizens in many ways over the years. Lt. Edmonds was not only our colleague, he was our dear friend. We will all miss him."

City Manager Michael J. Pearce agreed. "Lt. Edmonds was a familiar face around City Hall as part of his duties as the Police Administrative Lieutenant," Pearce said. "His abilities and job performance were only overshadowed by his humor and friendliness that made him so well liked, not only by staff but by our citizens. We are all feeling the sad loss."

Staff members, still reeling from the news, remembered Edmonds Wednesday afternoon. Many thought of Edmonds, a diehard Duke fan, passing away on the day of the first Duke-Carolina basketball game of the season and pledged to pull for Duke to win. Duke did manage to come from behind and beat Carolina at the buzzer, something no doubt that Edmonds would have loved, his co-workers noted.

Reidsville Police Department