John Reed "Reed" Edwards, son of Carlton Melvin (1911-2010) and Doris Phillips (Reed) (1917-1991), was born 19 August 1942, New York. He graduated in 1959 from Okemos High School and went on to attend both University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He married Susan Reynolds of Okemos Class of 1962 in 1963.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 16 August 1959
Reed Edwards is an Okemos high school graduate headed for Ann Arbor (where he will major in engineering) this fall.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Sunday 28 February 1960
Reed Edwards was one of the lucky 15 members of the air force ROTC group who were flown to Turner air force base this weekend for a tour.
The group left from Willow run airport Thursday morning and returned Saturday.
Reed married Susan Arville Reynolds (OHS class of 1962) 28 December 1963, Okemos Community Church, Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan.
Daniel's Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Rome, Georgia
Mr. John Reed Edwards, age 69, of 339 Mt. Alto Rd. Rome, GA, passed away on Monday August 13, 2012 at his residence.
Mr. Edwards was born in Auburn, New York August 19, 1942, son of the late Carlton Melvin Edwards and Doris Phillips Reed Edwards. He lived in Ithica, NY from 1946 to 1957. He moved to East Lansing, Mich., graduating from Okemos High School in 1959. He attended the University of Michigan and then Michigan State University graduating in 1966 with a BA in Business Administration. He then pursued an MBA in Marketing. During college he owned three service stations. He married Susan Arville’ Reynolds on December 28, 1963. Following graduation he moved to St. Louis, Mich. working for DMH Corporation (Mobile Home Manufacturer) in the marketing department. In 1969 he moved to Rome, GA. as sales manager for Design Mobile Homes, then later working in Chattanooga, TN. for Gray Southern Homes and later working in Bainbridge, GA. for DeRose Industries before opening his own mobile home sales dealership, Paramont Mobile Homes in 1971. Later that year the name changed to Skinny Reed’s Home Center. Over the years other locations were opened: Camper Corral, Skinny Reed’s in Calhoun and Cartersville, and Skinny’s Factory Outlet in Boaz, and Gadsden, AL. Reed retired from Skinny Reed’s Home Center in 2005. At the time of his death he was President of Coosa Valley Housing Corporation and Skinny’s Factory Outlet.
Mr. Edwards was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Rome, sang in the Chancel Choir and attended the Upper Room Sunday School Class. He was a Past President of the Upper Room Sunday School Class, Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and Building Committee member.
Mr. Edwards served on the City of Rome/Floyd County Citizen’s Zoning Committee, was Past Commander of Rome Power Squadron and Past Commodore of Rome Sailing Club. He also served on the Georgia Manufactured Housing Association Board, was a Coosa Valley Fair Board Member from 2007-2010, served on the Board of Directors of and sang with The Three Rivers Singers, was the Rome Exchange Club Premiums Chair for the Coosa Valley Fair and served as 1st Mate for the Roman Holiday.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years Susan Reynolds Edwards; three children, Beth Morrow and husband, Bob, Scott Edwards and wife, Cher, and Julie Lary and husband, Eddie; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Rachel and Josh Morrow, Chase and Reese Edwards, and Brinnon, Matthew Hines, Logan and Lily Lary; two sisters, Judy LaPierre and Sue Pollard and husband, Mike; brother, Paul Edwards and wife, Cris; and step-mother, Gertrude Edwards.
A Memorial Service for Mr. Edwards will be held Thursday, August 16th, at 3:00 PM in the First United Methodist Church of Rome with the Rev. Jane Brooks and Rev. Larry Caywood officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 PM until 3PM in the Wilder Center of the First United Methodist Church.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to The Family Resource Center, P.O. Box 168, Rome, Georgia 30162-0618 or to the First United Methodist Church, 202 East Third Avenue, Rome, GA 30161.
Daniel’s Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements for John Reed Edwards.