J.D. Edge

1926 - 2017

Died Sept. 25, 2017

Mr. J.D. Edge, age 91, of Dahlonega passed away Monday, Sept. 25, 2017.

J.D. Edge was born and reared in Lumpkin County, Ga. He grew up on a farm located in the Philippi community. Here, he learned valuable lessons from his parents who worked hard to provide for their family. His parents were "good, honest people" he recalled, who expected the children to help in all aspects of the work from an early age.

J.D.'s formal education started in a one-room school in Lumpkin County, the Garnet School. He recalled the long walk to school each day, chores such as gathering wood and keeping the heater fed and the close friendships he developed, all part of the experience of going to a one-room school. He continued his education and graduated from Lumpkin County High School in 1943.

After completing high school, J. D. worked with his family on the farm for a short period of time until he celebrated his 18th birthday in 1944 and was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Camp Landing located north of Jacksonville, Fla., for 12 weeks of basic infantry training and shortly after that was loaded onto a train destined for New York City and transport to Europe. He and the other soldiers were loaded on a tightly packed ship and departed, all in short order. Like many of the other soldiers who were suffering either from seasickness or homesickness, J.D. was ill all the way to France. It took eight or 10 days, he recalled, and he was very miserable. Their destination was the town of La Havre located on the French coast.

J.D. and his fellow soldiers were greeted with evidence of the war as the ship approached La Havre. The harbor had several partially sunken ships in and around it along with other debris. The fact that their arrival was shortly after the Normandy invasion was hard to escape considering the evidence that was all around.

Things had moved quickly for J.D. during the few weeks since he was drafted, and now on the ground in France he found that he and the other soldiers from the ship would be sorted into groups and sent to various combat units as replacements. For him, it would be Company L, 3rd Battalion, 13th Regiment of the 8th Infantry Division. He quickly found himself with an M-1 rifle in hand and a loaded backpack marching east. Within one to two weeks he and the other soldiers were at the front with their new units.

Like every other soldier, the period of time that followed resulted in memories that would stay vivid for a lifetime. J.D. recalled witnessing air attacks, both German and American, up close. His memories were of marching, sleeping on the ground and wearing the same uniform for weeks. He remembered finally getting a new pair of socks - a great day, since his old ones were worn to shreds. He went through France, Belgium and Holland. He crossed the Rhine River on a pontoon bridge under fire. He crossed the Elbe River in an amphibious vehicle also under fire. He spent nights when the artillery and gunfire was so loud he couldn't sleep. He recalled one "wonderful" night when he finally got to sleep inside in a barn loft. He experienced many miles on the march with an occasional ride in a truck or on the back of a tank.

As the war went on, the Germans were being pressed from the west by the allied armies including the 8th Infantry Division and from the west by the Russians. J.D. was there when soldiers from the two great armies met at Haganaugh.

The War in Europe finally ended with the surrender of the Germans on May 8, 1945. This was also while J.D. was at Haganaugh. His stay in Europe went on for several weeks. During this time he had numerous assignments including guarding German prisoners. He wound up back on the coast of France living in a cold tent and waiting for passage back to America. His time here was spent preparing rifles and other Army equipment for storage as the military was winding down operations in Europe. He finally was able to board a ship and was quickly destined for New York City. This time he made the passage without getting sick.

Back on American soil, J.D. was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The war in the Pacific was continuing and soldiers returning from Europe were being prepared for the anticipated invasion of Japan. J.D. was at Fort McPherson in Georgia for a time and was at Fort Hood in Texas when the war suddenly ended in August of 1945. Shortly after this, the 8th Infantry Division was disbanded and J.D. was once again a civilian heading back to Lumpkin County.

As a former soldier and a civilian, what J.D. wanted most was to find a direction for his life. He found this direction when he was offered an opportunity to teach school. This was possible then because a degree was not required for the job. He was back in a one-room school, this time with the responsibility of educating a room full of kids in grades one through seven. His career in education started with a salary of $62.50 per month.

Within two years J.D. was enrolled at North Georgia College where he earned a B.S. degree. He went on to earn two graduate degrees from the University of Georgia. Through the years, he taught hundreds of Lumpkin County students and fondly remembered both the students and their families. He later moved to the office of School Superintendent as Curriculum Director for the county. He received numerous awards for his work and served as President of both the N.E. Georgia Teacher Education Council and the 9th District Instructional Supervisors Association. Following his retirement, J.D. was elected to serve on the Lumpkin County Board of Education and he was a member and President of the Lumpkin County Retired Educators Association. His career in education spanned 45 years.

J.D. was a past master and active member of the Blue Mountain Masonic Lodge #38. The Lodge dedicated its kitchen to J.D. in recognition of his many years of work there.

The love of J.D.'s life was his wife Vi. Following retirement, they enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and Europe. Vi did volunteer work at the hospital and J.D. assisted with blood drives in Lumpkin County. They also enjoyed participating in the activities of the Lumpkin County Retired Educators Association and were active members of Corinth Baptist Church.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Bertha Grindle and Nancy Fortner; brothers, Carl Edge and W.A. Edge. J.D. is survived by George, his faithful German-Shepherd and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, at the Banister Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Lyman Caldwell will officiate. Interment will follow in Philippi Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to the Lumpkin County Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund c/o Suzanne Anderson 1010 Porter Springs Road, Dahlonega, GA 30533.

Online condolences may be made to the family at banisterfuneralhome.net.

Banister Funeral Home, Dahlonega