Eddie Charles Avery "AW AW"

Eddie Charles Avery, "AW AW", 77, departed this life on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025. Celebration of LIfe Service will be held Saturday, February 15th, 2025, at 1 p.m. at First Progressive Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Griffin Mortuary. Visitations will be held Friday, February 14th, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Griffin Mortuary. Eddie Charles Avery was the second born to the parents of Robert Lee Avery, Sr. and Cricket Elizabeth Day Avery on November 12th, 1947. Eddie accepted Christ and was baptized into the Faith. Eddie was a faithful member of First Progressive Baptist Church for 28 years until his health began to fail. He was a member of the 6 am prayer ban, where at the end of prayer each morning he would always say, “Everybody have a great day.” He was ordained in 2005 as a Deacon where he served until his death. He loved to sing and was a member of the senior choir and served as President for several years. He was also a part of the FP Male Chorus, served as Sunday School Superintendent, church bus driver until his health no longer permitted, court keeper of God’s house, always keeping it clean and ready for worship. A member of the FPBC Brotherhood as well.

Eddie loved children, especially the special needs children. He also coached the Little League Baseball Team, the Giants. Active member of the local Kiwanis Organization and very active in the delivery of flags in good weather or bad weather every Federal Holiday, he delivered flags. He was assistant director of the All Star Sports Camp and was active for 13 years.

Eddie was an outspoken but often kind husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He attended Phyllis Wheatley Elementary and Dunbar Jr-Sr High School. He graduated from Dunbar in 1967, upon graduation Eddie enlisted into the United States Marines and served 6 years with 2 tours to Vietnam. He received the Purple Heart Medal, RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palmframes, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Rifle Expert Badge, Pistol Marksman Badge, and Navy Achievement Medal with “V”. He was discharged with a Good Conduct Medal, upon discharge, Eddie worked as a Civil Service Employee at Reese Airforce Base Commissary. He also worked several years at the Greyhound Bus Terminal. He was also employed at Outback where he received several employee of the month awards. Eddie loved to shop in H.E.B. grocery store, where he was going to get his oranges, apples, and a jumbo apple pie with his faithful sisters Ruby and Peggy right by his side. Ruby, the driver with Eddie riding shotgun and giving driving directions.

Eddie is preceded in death by his parents Robert Lee Avery, Sr. and Cricket Elizabeth Day Avery, his brother Robert Lee Avery, Jr. “Peter”, his grandson Michael Erwin, and his granddaughter Angela Erwin.

Eddie leaves to cherish his memory, his faithful, loving wife of 26 years Thelma Avery, Eddie was a girl dad with three daughters Cynthia Gilbert (Spencer, Sr.) of Red Oak, TX, Germaine Johnson (Kelvin) of DeSoto, TX, LaTisha Robinson of Hutto, TX and Jaime Jackson (Bernard) of Anna, TX, his sons Michael Erwin (Margarita) of Lubbock, TX, Albert Erwin, III of Longview, TX, and Jermaine Erwin (Lenda) also of Lubbock, TX, his sisters Mary Jo Wilson (Chalmus) of Banning, CA, Bonnie Anderson (Charles) of Huntsville, AL, Ruby Travenia (Ray) , Peggy Avery Stokes, and Linda Gambles all of Lubbock, TX, and Janice Kenz of South Carolina, his grandsons Daniel, Spencer II, Sterling, and Keyshawn, his granddaughters Justus, RaeKayla, Brezajaine, Vianca, and Zanya, his great-grandchildren ZaiDeon, ZaCody, Rae’Lynn, Ritaje, Brennan, and Kyree, his great-great granddaughter Arjeree, Eddie also raise children special to his heart, Barbara Minnitt, MiTosha Willis, and Jamardric York, and a host of other relatives and friends.