Edgar Powell Yarborough of Jackson, Mississippi

April 13, 2019

Edgar (Ed) Powell Yarborough, 65, died of natural causes at his home in Jackson, MS on April 13, 2019. He was born on October 24, 1953 in Columbus, MS to parents Sedgie Edgar and Lucile Powell Yarborough. He was a graduate of S.D. Lee High School.  Ed earned a B.A. in History and a Bachelors of Business Administration at MSU and a M.A. in Political Science at the University of Alabama.  He was a graduate of the MSU Army ROTC and upon graduation was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Army and served for two years.

He qualified as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Public Manager. Ed had an almost 23 year career with the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor, including serving as Director of the County Division, State Auditor's Office for over eleven years.  Ed married Beckye Lyons in 2006 in Jackson, MS.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, brother Patrick Foil Yarborough, and niece Lucy Madan. He is survived by his wife and her three children--Kathleen Lyons, Tracie Grace Riesgo (Brandon), and Daniel Lyons--several grandchildren, his sister Peggy Phillips, brother-in-law Billy Phillips of Columbus, sister-in-law Mary Grace Yarborough, and niece Mandy Booker and nephews--Mathew Yarborough and Bo Borland--and their families.

Ed was baptized at First Baptist Church in Columbus. He was a current member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.  He enjoyed politics, history, golf, MSU athletics, classic movies, musicals, and good food.  He loved his family and friends and was always organizing ways for them to get together.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside service at Friendship Cemetery on Wednesday, April 17 at 2:00 p.m. Honorary pallbearers include Dale Brooks, Dan Tolar, Jim Younger, Lentz Gatlin, Jimmy Thompson, and Bill Hunt.  A memorial service in Jackson is being planned for a future date.

Memorials may be made to a favorite charity, or, as Ed was so fond of both MSU and lifelong learning, a donation in his name (be sure to designate the name of Ed Yarborough) can be made to the Compass Scholarship Fund, MSU Foundation, PO Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762.