Ed Edmonson

ED EDMONSON

Robert Lawrence “Ed” Edmonson, age 78, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 22, 2020 at his residence in Columbus. A graveside service will be held Friday September 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Friendship Cemetery with Rev. Anne Russell Bradley officiating.

Mr. Edmonson, born in Columbus on August 29, 1942, was the only son of the late Robert Lawrence Edmonson Sr. and the late Wilda Frances McGahey Harrison. He is survived by his loving wife, Theresa Gore Edmonson, of 58 blessed years of marriage; his half-sister, Lillian Gayle Edmonson of Houston, Texas; his daughter Robbie Edmonson Upton (Tim) and his son, Randall Arthur Edmonson; and five grandchildren: Sanders Lawrence Edmonson, Samuel Paje Edmonson, Robert Colby Upton, Timothy Cayden Upton and Arthur Cale Upton. He is preceded by his half-brother George Larry Edmonson.

Mr. Edmonson attended Demonstration school, Lee High School and the University of Mississippi. Being a natural athlete, Mr. Edmonson enjoyed many sports including football, basketball, bowling, swimming, racquet ball and tennis. During his tennis career, Mr. Edmonson and his doubles partner, George “Juddie” Boyd, were ranked #1 in Mississippi 11 times between 1984 and 1996. They won on many occasions together over the years including 7 Senior Invitational Tournaments. Mr. Edmonson and his partner were both later inducted, as the first doubles team, into the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame on January 5, 2007.

Also an avid outdoorsman, Mr. Edmonson excelled in his hunting skills and dog training. He was particularly partial to squirrel hunting, because he loved to watch his dogs hunt. He trained many squirrel dogs and was one of the first hunters in the United States to own and integrate Russian sleigh dogs, known as the West Siberian Laika, into squirrel hunters due to their heightened sense of smell. Mr. Edmonson won countless hunting competitions, was a member of the National Cur and Feist Breeders Association and was once featured in Full Cry magazine for his unrivaled success.

During his career, Mr. Edmonson, at age 14, started working at the license-tag plant operated by Columbus Marble Works and owned by his grandfather, Thomas Arthur McGahey. After college he continued work at the Columbus Marble Works and owned several businesses in Alabama and Mississippi, including the Pinsetter Bowling Lanes in Columbus. He went on to become the president of the Columbus Marble Works and the company is still owned and operated by his family today.

Throughout his life, Mr. Edmonson had many endeavors and hobbies, but none could be compared to his greatest interest which was his grandchildren. There was never a moment where he was not actively present in all of his grandchildren’s lives and he would not have it any other way. There are no words to describe the love and devotion Mr. Edmonson had for his family and he will always be a part of them.