Terry and Linda Edwards have been in Wilson for about three weeks, but they say they are settling in nicely.
They spent the last three years in High Point heading the Salvation Army there.
"Wilson is a nice-size town, and the people are very nice," said Maj. Terry Edwards. "This is not our first assignment in eastern North Carolina because we have served in New Bern and Elizabeth City."
Edwards said no matter where they serve, the mission is the same -- to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs without discrimination.
Both Terry and Linda Edwards have been spending most of their time getting acquainted with the staff and the programs they will be implementing in Wilson. They replaced Maj. Cape Grice and his wife, Maj. Brenda Grice, who were reassigned to Florence, S.C.
The husband-and-wife team split the duties heading the Salvation Army in every city they work in, as is required. Both are ordained ministers. Terry Edwards takes care of the finances and preaches for the church services. His wife heads the programs and preaches in her husband's absence. Wives receives no salary for their duties, and are not permitted to hold a job outside of the Salvation Army.
The Edwardses have been married for 40 years and officers in the Salvation Army for 38 years. They will be able to retire in five years.
"We don't know if Wilson will be our last city or not," said Linda Edwards. "We have had some five-year assignments and even had one assignments for six years. It would be nice to stay here in Wilson until we retire."
The Edwardses have had 13 assignments in their 38 years of service, but each city they have lived in has been in the Carolinas.
"That is a blessing because the southern region of the Salvation Army is 15 states large, and we love the Carolinas," Linda Edwards said. "We always manage to live in either North or South Carolina."
Terry was born in Mount Airy. Linda was born in Virginia but moved to Mount Airy when she was 12 years old and considers Mount Airy home.
They met while attending high school in Mount Airy and both decided, after feeling a calling to the ministry, to go to the Salvation Army for the two-year mandatory training college in Atlanta.
They have three children and seven grandchildren. All of their three children live in the Carolinas. A daughter and son in Burlington and a son in Columbia, S.C.
Although their children are "Army brats," none has followed their parents into the Salvation Army.
"Our daughter volunteers with the Army in her town and says she really enjoys her volunteer work," Linda Edwards said.
"I think we are going to do just fine here in Wilson," said Terry Edwards. "I got a call from Major Grice in Florence, S.C. He said he misses Wilson and wants to trade with me and Linda. I told him no way."
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