William Allen Edson

William Allen Edson, a resident of Eufaula, died Wednesday night, May 3, 2006, in the Lakeview Community Hospital in Eufaula. He was 73.

Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Holman-Abbeville Mortuary Chapel with the Revs. Bobby Hines and Cleveland Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the Fellowship Baptist Cemetery in the Capps community, between Newville and Abbeville. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the mortuary in Abbeville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wiregrass Hospice of Eufaula, 831 W. Washington St., Eufaula, AL 36027; the Fellowship Baptist Cemetery Fund, c/o Robb Cleveland, 5651 State Highway 27, Newville, AL 36353; or Lake City Baptist Church Building Fund, 33 Early Street, Eufaula, AL 36027.

Mr. Edson was born in Cullman County but was reared in Conecuh County, near Evergreen. He was a 1951 graduate of Evergreen High School. After three years as a student at Troy University, Mr. Edson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served his country during the Korean Conflict. After his military duty, he returned to Troy University where he received a B. S. degree in elementary education in 1958. He later received a Master's degree in administration and supervision from Troy University. Mr. Edson also furthered his education in post graduate courses at Auburn University and Troy University. In earlier years, Mr. Edson taught elementary education at the Emma P. Flowers School in Ozark. He served as prinicipal at Skipperville Jr. High School and had also been employed as the assistant superintendent of the Dale County School System. Mr. Edson formerly served as the Title I director of the Barbour County school system and later served as the superintendent of education for Barbour County. In later years, he was employed by the Henry County Board of Education as principal at Abbeville High School. Mr. Edson served as a deacon in the Lake City Baptist Church in Eufaula. He and his wife were the first members of the Calvary Baptist Church in Abbeville where he also served as a deacon. Mr. Edson was a former member and past president of the Abbeville Lions Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Edson and Annie Haddock Edson; his birth mother, Maggie Edson Latham; a son-in-law, Lt. Col. (Retired) Raymond Weiss; a sister, Annie; and also brother, Samuel J. Latham.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Mary Lisenby Edson, Eufaula; a daughter, Debbie Edson Weiss, Dothan; a son, Walter Edson and his wife, Kristy Edson, Eufaula; three grandchildren, Amber Edson, Allen Weiss and Phillip Weiss; a sister, Myrtle Hooks and her husband, Lewis Hooks, Evergreen; a brother-in-law, Robert Harrison Lisenby and his wife, Sarah Hicks Lisenby, Abbeville; several nieces and nephews.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Buddy Platt, Allen Weiss, Phillip Weiss, John Benefield, John DeLoach and Wayne Davis.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Sunday school class members.

Holman-Abbeville Mortuary, (334) 585-5261, is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guestbook at www.dothaneagle.com.