Dr. Edward Clarke Bozeman, Sr., age 89, of Columbus died Friday, September 9, 2011 at his home. After a lengthy illness, his prayers were answered as he went to be with his Savior in his heavenly home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home. His funeral will be held Monday, September 12, 2011 at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church with Dr. Shawn Parker, Dr. Joe McKeever and Rev. Clark Richardson officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery. The son of the late Wesley Oresta and Arrie Rebecca Clark Bozeman, Dr. Bozeman was born May 1, 1922 in Andalusia, AL. He graduated in June, 1945 from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and established his practice in Columbus in October, 1945. On November 10,1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Martha Whaley Wood. They enjoyed almost 66 years of marriage. Dr. Bozeman constructed the first small animal hospital in Columbus in January, 1954. In July, 1960 he added as an associate Dr. William W. Canon, followed by Dr. Samuel E. Wilcox, Dr. Cecil Boswell and Dr. Steven Guist. He had been a member of First Baptist Church since 1945, where he was a member of the sanctuary choir and a Life Deacon. He was a former member of the Columbus Rotary Club and the Columbus Kiwanis Club. He served on the Columbus city council from 1969-1973 and on the Civil Service Commission from 1967-1968. He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, the Auburn University Alumni Association and Omega Tau Sigma professional fraternity. Dr. Bozeman played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Scott-Richey Research Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn. In 1955, he introduced a wealthy businessman, Mr. Kenneth Scott, to the late Dr. Frank Hoerlin, former chairman of small animal surgery and medicine. Mr. Scott saw a need for funds in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn and decided to establish the Scott Fund. In 1992, it became known as the Scott-Rochey Research Center , which continues to focus on companion animal health. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He is survived by his wife Martha Wood Bozeman, sons Dr. Edward C. Bozeman, Jr. and his wife Martha of Columbus and Kenneth Wood Bozeman and his wife Joanne of Appleton, WI and grandchildren Dr. Carrington Bozeman Grant(Justin) of Madison, MS, Catherine Bozeman Thoms (Kirk) of Dallas, TX, Edward Clarke Bozeman, III of Houston, TX, Jessica Bozeman Hronchek (Dan) of Holland, MI, Jeffrey David Bozeman of Chicago, IL and Christopher Wood Bozeman of Appleton, WI. Pallbearers will be Clarke Bozeman, III, Jeffrey Bozeman, Christopher Bozeman, Kirk Thoms, Tim Wood and Randy Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Andrew Johnson, Dr. Robert Howland, Dr. Frank Batson, Dr. Sammy Wilcox, Dr. Cecil Boswell, Dr. William Canon, Dr. Steve Guist, Dr. George Welch, Steve McEwen, Dave Taylor, William Mills, Bill Brigham, David Shelton, Sonny Shelton, Coleman Robertson, Chuck Younger, Richard Laws, Mac McCarty, Ira Carter, Otis Taylor, Bill Taylor, Dick Rollins, Mike Waters, Ned Hardin, Charlie Holcomb, Sammy Platt, Bill Roden, Martin Beck, Stewart Graham, Larry Luttrell, Bob Smart, Billy Shackelford, Earnest Pass, Columbus Jones and Home Healthcare givers Teresa Martin, Ameki Noland, Lassandra Jackson and Charmine Jones, Baptist Hospice Staff and the Life Deacons of First Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to Baptist Hospice, P.O. Box 1307, Columbus, MS 39703 or to the Lottie Moon Foreign Missions, c/o First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703.
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