As a Coach for over 37 years, Edgar Randall impacted thousands of young peoples’ lives. Williamsburg Christian Academy’s board and the Randall family announced recently that the main gymnasium that Randall spent two weeks a year in after the establishment of his Flying Eagle Basketball Camp, will now be dedicated in his honor as the Edgar Randall Memorial Gymnasium. The dedication is currently scheduled to coincide with the basketball team’s homecoming game on Friday, January 10th.

A fixture in the Williamsburg community, Coach Randall was employed at Williamsburg Christian Academy from 1994-2004, as the school’s Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher, and coached both basketball and golf. “I was in his class every day, and I played for the basketball team he coached,” shared 2002 alum and current WCA Admissions Director Cassie Bradshaw. “He impacted every student he worked with, in athletics, but also serving as a role model. Coach Randall had a way of speaking to students that made everyone feel loved and valued, while maintaining high standards for his students.” He also umpired for baseball games and retired as a Captain in the Army Reserves. In the summer of 1994, Randall founded the Flying Eagles Basketball Camp and held that camp yearly at Williamsburg Christian Academy after the current building opening until the summer prior to his passing in 2018.

His service, however, didn’t end on the court, course or field. Edgar was very involved in his church serving as a deacon, mens group leader and director of the mens chorus. He also held positions at Toano Middle School, Warhill High School and Hornsby Middle, and was involved with the Boo Williams AAU basketball program. “He helped me understand what it is to be accountable, be a man, take responsibility and actually work hard for something,” explained Dontee Heard, a former player of Coach Randall. “To receive that from someone who isn’t your parent, or related to you in any regard, that’s a type of a testimony on his part to invest that kind of energy and time with kids when he didn’t have to.” Hornsby Middle School Principal Jessica Ellison was another individual deeply impacted by Coach Randall, when he joined the school to coach their basketball team. “Whether it be his love for the children, his compassion, or his role as a coach or an educator, Coach Randall was a shining example of not just what a teacher should be, but what a person should be. There will never be another Coach Randall, he was that special to the school and the community.”  Edgar’s sons have continued the tradition of the Flying Eagles Basketball Camp, renaming the camp in honor of their father, the Edgar Randall Basketball Camp.

In honor of a man who gave so much, Williamsburg Christian Academy, the Edgar Randall Basketball Camp and the Randall Family are also delighted to announce the formation of a continuing scholarship fund in Edgar Randall’s name, the Edgar Randall Scholarship Fund. The fund’s goal is to provide merit-based scholarships, which may be combined with other financial assistance. Applicants will be required to complete the Edgar Randall Scholarship Application which will include an essay from the applying student, explaining why they desire to attend Williamsburg Christian Academy and examples of how the applicant has exhibited responsibility, accountability and leadership- characteristics that Edgar Randall frequently demonstrated. The recipient will be selected by a committee including members of the Randall family. More details will be forthcoming, and the committee expects to release exact criteria and start collecting applications this coming Spring.

The WCA Board of Directors requests the WCA community join them in memorializing Coach Randall both by contributing to this important scholarship fund, and by attending the dedication ceremony. Donations to the fund are needed to extend the blessing of Christian education to as many students as possible, and are now being accepted by check at WCA, or by debit or credit card at http://bit.ly/edgarrandallscholarship.