Edwin Davidson

Edwin Randolph "Randy" Davidson was born June 30, 1942 in DeQueen, Arkansas and went to Heaven on the 12th of March, 2021. He is survived by his loving wife Bonnie Ruth Cowan Davidson; son Brandon Alan Davidson and his wife Amanda; daughter Saylee Ann Davidson Hammond and her husband Josh; five grandchildren Jacob, Samantha and Hayden Davidson, Sarah and Clayton Hammond along with numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father Meddie Roy Davidson, mother Beulah Evelyn Wilson Davidson, his two brothers Barney and Samuel Davidson and two sisters Mary Davidson Armstrong and Verna Davidson.

Randy was saved as a young boy about the age of 13. He and his family attended church at the Holiness Church in DeQueen, Arkansas. Bro. Jim Hendrix was his pastor and baptized him in the Cossatot River. Randy was a passionate, thoughtful, kind, patient person and a perfectionist in everything he did. Music was a passion of his. He grew up writing songs and poems. Gospel was his choice of music. He loved to gather around the piano and harmonize with the family. He thoroughly enjoyed sitting in his big, nice leather recliner listening to Calvary singers and Bro. Snow preach.

The following are some of Randy's own words he had written about his life:

Born in 1942, and raised in a small Southern town. Southern born, Southern bred; no outside influences.
Youngest of 5 children, with siblings age gap 12, 14, 16 and 18 years; basically grew up as an only child.
Lost my mother to cancer at age 10. Lost stepmother at age 14 after only a three month relationship.
Dropped out of High School in Arkansas at age 15, started back to school in Oklahoma, at age 17, graduating at age 19.
Before going back to school, I lived in various towns in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington.
Served apprenticeship as Electrician and Carpenter, went on to become part of a three-generation family business, 3-D Electric and Custom Home Builders, Inc., which included father, brother and nephew.
Changed careers at age 23, beginning in Food Retailing in 1965 in Oklahoma, and worked for several major retailers in various positions.
Didn't start to college until I was 30, and had to drop out without graduating to maintain full time job.
Found it difficult to relate to younger students in college because of the age gap.
While attending college I was married, became a foster parent, communting 3 hours to college, carrying a full-time class load while working five days a week with no time off.
Married at age 21 in Oklahoma, March 14th, 1964 and lived in Oklahoma until age 34.
Moved from Oklahoma, where I married, back to my birth state of Arkansas at age 34; transferred with major food retailer.
At age 32, adopted an infant son in Oklahoma; adopted a two year-old daughter at age 41 in Arkansas.

Found individual expression through music. Music was always a big part of my life. Throughout high school and after college I performed a mixed genre of music; from Pop to Country, Bluegrass to Boogie, Doo-Wop to Disco, R & R to R & B, Swing to Polka, Big Band to Southern Gospel. I wrote and performed original songs as well as top 40; played for dance crowds, performed weekly on live radio, played with recording artists and also as a recording artist, played venues in Central Colorado, Central Oklahoma, Southern and Northern Arkansas, Southern Missouri. Radio audiences covered Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
Live venues ranged from Rocky Mountain retreats, to radio and talent contests, to school functions and private parties, to company awards dinners and dance halls, and ice cream socials to local and state fairs, to all day/all night gospel singings and church services.
These personal experiences molded who I became, which is an introvert except when performing on stage with a guitar strapped on. My circa 1960's Fender Stratocaster (survivor of 2, first one was stolen), it could tell some tales if only it could talk. My first guitar and amp, circa 1958 Danelectro, was given to a relative and later lost.

And who is this slightly infamous person who was a legend in his own mind?

He was a father, husband, Papa, brother, uncle, a man of God, and he is now one of God's Heavenly angels.