Edgar "Mr. Ed" Edwards

Edgar Miller Edwards, Sr. “Mr. Ed”, 92, of Hinesville went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

Ed was born July 18, 1926, in Claxton, GA, to the late Robert Carroll Edwards and Alethia Smith Edwards.  He proudly served his country on the U.S.S. Little Rock during WWII from 1944 - 1946.  After his service in the navy, he went on to graduate from Georgia Teacher’s College in 1950.   His long career in education began in Hinesville, GA, where he was hired by his former High School Principal, Waldo Pafford, as a teacher and coach at Bradwell Institute.  He went on to serve as Assistant Principal and Principal of Bradwell while continuing his education, earning his Master’s from Vanderbilt and Doctorate from the University of Georgia.  In 1968 he was elected as Superintendent of Liberty County Schools and served in that capacity for 20 years until his retirement in 1988.  He was very proud to have awarded all five of his children with their high school diplomas.  He was a past recipient of Georgia Superintendent of the Year; the Georgia Association of Education Leaders – Distinguished Service Award; the Georgia High School Association – Distinguished Service Award in addition to many others. While his career path took him away from coaching and into administration, he remained an avid supporter of Bradwell and Liberty County Athletics as well as the Georgia Bulldogs and Atlanta Braves.  He was honored by the Bradwell Boosters in May 1989 as Bradwell’s number 1 fan with 38 years perfect attendance of Bradwell football games.  Mr. Ed was also inducted into the Liberty County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Following his retirement from the Liberty County School System, he began a new career as a Marketing Representative for Buckley Architectural Services. In this role he negotiated deals with school systems leading to the construction of numerous schools throughout the state of Georgia until his retirement at the age of 90 in 2016.

He was predeceased by his parents, Robert Carroll Edwards and Alethia Smith Edwards; his son, Edgar M. Edwards, Jr.; and his two brothers, Robert Henry Edwards and Carroll Smith Edwards.  

He is survived by his precious and devoted wife of 62 years, Patricia (Patty) Varnedoe Edwards; daughters, Kathleen Valentine (Michael) and Rebecca Smith (Rodney); sons, Patrick Varnedoe Edwards (Lynne) and Robert Henry Edwards (Diana); grandchildren, Matthew Valentine (Jacquie), Christopher Valentine (TerriLynn), Jason Valentine, Sarah Edwards, Robert Martin, and Patrick Edwards; great grandchildren, Riley and Ryder Valentine; sister, Alethia Nowell; sister-in-law, Betty Edwards; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mr. Ed was a devout Christian, devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a loyal friend, and faithful servant to the community.  He was a member of First United Methodist Church and served over 50 years as the President of the Men’s Bible Class.  He was also a member of the Lions Club for many years and received the Melvin Jones Fellow award for dedicated humanitarian service.

Mr. Ed had a profound effect on the lives of many people by whom he will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be 5-8pm, Friday, August 03, 2018, at Hinesville First United Methodist Church.  Funeral Services will begin at 11am, Saturday, August 4, 2018, at Hinesville First United Methodist Church.  Viewing will be 10:30-11am.  Following the funeral, burial with military honors will be in Hinesville Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Hinesville First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 203 North Main Street, Hinesville, GA  31313.

Pallbearers will be Mr. Edwards’s grandchildren, Mathew, Christopher, and Jason Valentine, Sarah and Patrick Edwards, and Robert Martin.  Honorary pallbearers will be members of the A.G. Overman Sunday School Class.        

Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.CarterOglethorpe.com.