Jeremy Edwards

Reporter’s note: For most college students, weekends are the times for relaxing, hanging out with friends and of course, partying. For others like me when I attended college, the weekends are set aside for obtaining more hours at work. When I met Jeremy Edwards one Friday evening at Applebee’s, he was doing just that. While sharing dinner with a few of my sorority sisters, Jeremy made occasional stops to our table to make sure that we were comfortable and our meals were enjoyable. Because some of my sorority sisters knew him from Valdosta State University, his attitude toward us seemed a little more personal than the common personality of a server. Before the dinner was over, I had learned so much about Jeremy I decided to invite him to share his story with the public. As I sat down with Jeremy last week during the interview, he chose his words cautiously at first. However, by the end of our meeting, I felt like I’d know him for years.





VALDOSTA — At first glance, one would think that Jeremy Roger Edwards was the typical preppy preacher’s son who is attending college and plans to join the ministry after he graduates. But for the 23 year-old Mass Media major, preaching is a calling, not a family tradition.

“Of course, I hold my father’s Christian values, but I would never attempt to preach God’s word if I am not spiritually called to do so,” Jeremy said.

The oldest of three children, Jeremy was born and raised Dublin. Although he and his father have always been close, work kept his dad gone often during much of Jeremy’s childhood.

“During the summer and on weekends, my parents would always drop me off at grandma’s when they went to work,” Jeremy said with a slight grin. “Since my grandma lived on a farm, she had me in the fields working and driving tractors.”

However, a life-altering experience at age 16 helped Jeremy and his father build an even stronger bond.

“While my dad was studying to join the ministry, he became sick with an unknown viral infection and everyone expected him to die,” Jeremy said. “Not only did this drive me to become closer to my dad, this point in my life drove me to get my first job and start taking care of myself.”

Contrary to predictions, Jeremy’s father eventually made a full recovery from his illness. His father was then able to start back working and talking care of the family but this did not stop Jeremy from continuing to make his own money.

While Jeremy found fulfillment in doing for himself when he was still in high school, he also enjoyed sports. Throughout his tenure at Dublin High School, he played football, basketball and baseball.

“I played in two state championships, one in basketball and one in football. We lost both of them, but I still wouldn’t give up that experience!”

Of the three sports, Jeremy’s passion is baseball, which he carried on into college.

“I played for the VSU Blazer baseball team my first two years of school,” Jeremy said.

Jeremy’s time as a Blazer introduced him to new things and various people. In fact, Jeremy had the opportunity to meet and hang out with professional baseball players, including former Atlanta Brave Marcus Giles.

Because of his love for sports, Jeremy also sought to expand his physical education when he entered college. His initial major was athletic training and physical therapy.

An unfortunate knee injury after his second year of college ended Jeremy’s career as a Blazer. As he placed baseball in his past, thoughts about what he really wanted to do with his future led Jeremy to change his major. With faded aspirations of becoming a physical therapist, Jeremy embraced mass media with an emphasis in broadcast journalism.

When asked what made him choose broadcast journalism, Jeremy smiled and replied, “I like to talk …well, I enjoying talking, but I wouldn’t mind working behind the camera as well.”

For now, Jeremy is enrolled as a full-time student and plans to graduate in June. Jeremy mentioned that as a senior, he feels a bit out of place on campus.

“Several of my friends have already graduated and moved away,” Jeremy said. “With the influx of freshman, I usually just communicate with the few people I know who are still on campus.”

When he is not studying or in class, Jeremy can be found at Applebee’s on Inner Perimeter Road, where he has worked since he left Convergys a year ago. He says that he has worked his way through college and maintains the strong work ethics he gained while working on grandma’s farm and helping take care of his home while his father was sick. Jeremy plans to remain diligent after he graduates and enters into his career as well.

“I hold myself to some very high standards. If I don’t excel, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. It’s all about what I think and what I do.”

With graduation less than a year away, Jeremy says that he has no intentions of returning to Dublin except for the holidays. However, he looks forward to helping his parents, Roger and Joanne, celebrate their silver anniversary in July with his younger brother, Jeremiah, and his sister, Jana, who also attends VSU.

“I like to hear my dad preach at New Friendship Baptist Church when I’m home as well.”

Jeremy expressed a desire to one day attend graduate school at the University of Central Florida or Clark Atlanta University. However, his short-term goal is to work behind the cameras and eventually become a sports commentator.

In the next five years, Jeremy would like to have a job in his field, be married and possibly have a child. He aspires to share a bond with his children that models the bond his parents share with him and his siblings.

“I just appreciate what I have and I’m very optimistic about what’s in store for me.”