The Honorable Edwin Maurice Braswell Sr., 94, died peacefully Monday, January 30, 2017 at Carolina Highlands.

Judge Braswell was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Cox Braswell.

He served honorably in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a Tail Gunner on a B-17 bomber having 41 combat missions over Europe, was shot down, and held as a Prisoner of War in Bucharest, Romania.

After being honorably discharged in 1945, he pursued a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and attended the National Judicial College at the University of Colorado. His career in the legal field included District Attorney, Superior Court Judge, and Judge for the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He was the author of over 800 judicial opinions, pattern Jury instructions, and the Judge's Handbook. He was former President of the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges and North Carolina District Attorney's Association. He was former Vice-President of the North Carolina Bar Association and former faculty advisor for the National Judicial College University of Nevada.

He authored the book "Flaming Arrow: WWII as seen from a B-17" and served as guest lecturer for the SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) program for the USA JFK Special Warfare Center at Ft. Bragg, NC.

He was a dedicated member of Haymount United Methodist Church and served as Sunday school teacher of Barrington Bible Class for over 40 years.

He is survived by his sons, Edwin Maurice Braswell Jr. and wife Nancy, Mark Walter Braswell and, daughter Susan Braswell Moore and husband David, seven grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 3 P.M. at Haymount United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, officiated by Francis Daniel. Burial will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 6-8 P.M. at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Ft. Bragg Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303.