Funeral services will be held Sunday for a prominent business leader in the Monroe community, Edward Bolden who died Monday.
Bolden died Monday, September 28, 2020, at the Cornerstone Hospital in West Monroe, La. Funeral service will be held Sunday at the New Antioch Baptist Church.
Bolden, a self-proclaimed former alcoholic, reformed his life to become one of the areas most successful businessmen and spent the rest of his life trying to help others who had fallen.
He was well known for his efforts to organize the Black business community in Monroe. He spent years promoting vocational training for ex-convicts to give them a second chance in life.
He used his Body Shop business as a springboard to community involvement promoting black business growth, and concern for the poor.
A former member of the Nation of Islam, Bolden subscribed to the idea of Black self-help, but was often frustrated because others didn’t share his passion.
He authored scores of columns in local newspapers, including the Free Press, and became a benefactor to newly released ex-convicts by providing housing and job training upon their release from prison.
In the 1980’s Bolden, along with a small group of businessmen formed a black business alliance of more than 200 local Black businessmen with the purpose of promoting black business advancement. For a few years, he became the spokesman for the Black business community in Monroe.
His own epitaph: “I’ve Tried”
In 2000, Bolden wrote a column that appeared in the Free Press in which he summed up his attitude about service: “It is much better to die saying that “I’ve tried” rather than going to your grave not knowing that if you would have succeeded to in life. We need to stop saying, “I wish I had! Could I have done that? Or should I have done that? What does our future hold? What good it is for us to talk about each other; when we do not take the time to establish true Black leadership and carry our race to another level.
Funeral details
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020-4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Funerals by McFarland, 1901 Burg Jones Lane, Monroe, La.
The Homegoing Celebration will be Sunday, October 4, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Greater New Antioch Baptist Church, 301 Sherrouse Avenue
Monroe, La.
Temperature Check and Mask Wearing is Required.
Committal Services, Monday, October 5, 2020- 10:00 a.m. Richwood Memorial Gardens.
Official Obituary
His official obituary reads as follows:
Rev. Edward C. Bolden Sr. was born April 14, 1942, to Edward and Ethel Belton in Jonesboro, LA who preceded him in death. He transitioned on September 28, 2020. He was also preceded in death by his sisters Josie Madison and Dorothy Stringer.
He was married to Mrs. Pearlie Jones Bolden who preceded him in death. To this union was born one son Edward Clayton Bolden, Jr. who also preceded him in death. Together they reared her daughter Shirley Jones and built the Hollywood Snack Bar and Ed’s Body Shop on the south side of Monroe, LA.
Later in life, he married Millie Goods who preceded him in death. Together they reared her son James “Tron” Goods. On May 1, 2011, he united in Holy matrimony to Louise Harris at the Mount Sinai Baptist Church, Monroe, LA by the late Rev. William Sanders. Together they continued the family business.
Rev. Bolden accepted Christ an early age and was baptized at the Brown Grove Baptist Church in Jonesboro, LA. Later in life after moving to Monroe, LA, he and his family united with the Deuteronomy Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Anderson Fields and Rev. Donald Givens. He later united with Pleasant Green Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James Earl Jackson and Rev. William Smith in Richwood, LA. He then united with Mount Sinai Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. William Sanders where he served as Youth Minister. Then he joined the Evening Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Freddie Moore, Piney Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Donald Woods, New Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. John L. Russell Sr. then became Greater New Antioch Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. John L. Russell II where he served as the Minister of Homeless and Feeding Ministry and remained a faithful member.
He was called to the preaching ministry at the Pleasant Green Baptist Church, Rev. James Earl Jackson. He was later licensed to preach at Shady Grove Baptist Church, Jonesboro, LA on April 21, 2003, under the leadership of Rev. Steve V. Hunter Sr.
Rev. Edward Bolden received his education at Jackson High School in Jonesboro, LA and later at the United Theological Seminary in Monroe, LA.
He was employed as a teacher for auto body mechanics and later decided to start his own business called Edwards Body Works and Mechanics.
He leaves to cherish her memories his lovely wife Louise Bolden; one daughter Shirley Jones of Monroe, LA; one son James (Petrouchka) Goods of Baton Rouge, LA; two brothers Billy (Hilda) Bolden of Albuquerque, NM and Donald Bolden of Monroe, LA; a host of nieces, nephew, other special family, and friends.
