Pastor Edward Wheat was affectionally known as “Joe” was born on June 16, 1936, or as he would always say  “6-16-36,” in Tuskegee, Alabama to the late Mrs. Annie (Wheat) Graham.  He was a graduate of Akron East High School.  He worked and retired from Sacks Electrical Supply Company.

Since the age of 9, the preaching of the Word of God has been on the heart of Pastor Edward Wheat.  He accepted Jesus Christ at the early age of 11.   As a teen, his pastor at the time, Rev. G.A, Humphrey and his wife, Helen, saw his strong interest in wanting to know more about Jesus Christ, Christianity, and the Baptist Church.  They acquired material on these subjects and taught him in the Baptist Training Union (BTU).  After high school, his thirst had increased for the Word of God, and he went to The University of Akron to inquire about studies in Christian Religion, but none was offered.  He enrolled anyway in the University’s Business Administration program and became very despondent because it was not what he wanted in life.  His professor told him he was making an “unwise” decision to withdraw from the program. He continued in the BTU yet feeling a prompting to become a preacher, but not really wanting to be one.  The time came when he was asked to be an instructor at BTU.  This was a delightful opportunity to study the Word of God more diligently and it was doubly delightful because that is where he met his future wife Clara Jean Howard.  As time passed, he felt a stronger desire to preach the Word of God.  He went to his Pastor and the congregation prayed about his struggle.  It was apparent that God was preparing Pastor Wheat for God’s time.  Several years later, he joined Mt. Olive Baptist church serving in the Senior Choir, teaching Sunday School, and eventually being ordained as a Deacon.  Even serving in all these capacities, Pastor Wheat still wanted to know more about God’s Word.  With that strong desire, he enrolled in Moody Bible Institute Evening School, graduating in 1985, in Christian Education.  After 10 years at Moody, the desire to PROCLAIM God’s Word became more intense!  The intensity was so great that he became restless to preach.  Upon discussing it with his wife, she advised that he should do what God had put on his heart!  Pastor Wheat then went to his Pastor at Mt. Olive and told him about his Call.  The Pastor said to him “be sure it’s God’s call”.  With lots of prayers, study, equipping, and more prayer, he finally accepted what was evident to his grandmother, mother, and many others at a very young age, — his calling. He was ordained and became the Associate Pastor at Mt. Olive Baptist Church.  With many years of training in counseling, teaching, and preaching the Word of God anywhere and everywhere, in November 1992, God called him to a church on a hill who was a flock without a shepherd to minister to His sheep at  Morning Star Baptist Church.  He served there faithfully in preaching, teaching, and living the Word of God.

Thank you, Pastor Wheat, Thank you “Sweetie”, Thank you, Daddy, Thank you, Grandpa, Thank you, Great-Grandpa, Thank you Joe, and Thank you Uncle Wheat for your years of love, dedication, devotion, kindness, gentleness, and most importantly THANK YOU GOD  for sending your servant to bring ” a lamp unto our feet which is Your Word and a light unto our path” to get us through this dark world!  He was a beloved, gentle, loyal, devoted, faithful, compassionate powerful God-fearing Pastor, family man, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He leaves to cherish his legacy and precious memories his caring devoted deeply-loved spoiled wife of 62 years, Mrs. Clara Jean Wheat, four handsome dedicated sons, Bruce (Jeane, deceased) Wheat of Johns Creek, Georgia; Clifford, Alex Sr. and Frederick Wheat all of Akron, Ohio; two beautiful dedicated Daddy-girl daughters, Donielle (William) Stephens and Etta Y. Gant (Wheat) both of Akron, Ohio; 12 powerful future-leader grandchildren, Yolanda “Yonnie”; Ja’Lyan (Joshua); Alexis, Nicole, Alex, Jr., Kendall, Johnetta, JohnEdward, Jayden, EdwardWade and Jazlyn; 5 adorable great-grandchildren Korde’, Cayden, Nalah, Jaxson and Jaycob; sisters-in-law, Minnye Crenshaw of Bessemer, Alabama and Marie Howard of Birmingham, Alabama and a host of treasured cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.