Edwin W. Potter, Sr.

Edwin "Ed" Wayne Potter Sr., age 80, of Hephzibah, Georgia, passed away on March 17, 2025 leaving behind a legacy of love, adventure, and a deep connection to the natural world. Born March 19, 1944, in the rugged mountains of Tennessee, Ed grew up surrounded by towering peaks, lush forests, and the simple beauty of rural life. Raised in the 1940s, a time when life was slower and the outdoors called to those with a spirit of adventure, he developed a deep appreciation for nature that would last throughout his life.

From an early age, Ed was drawn to the mountains that shaped his childhood, often hiking, horseback riding, exploring, and discovering the wonders of the wild. It was in those hills that he learned to appreciate the freedom and peace that only the great outdoors could provide. His love for adventure led him to explore far beyond the Tennessee hills when, at the tender age of 18, Ed joined the United States Army. He served overseas in the Vietnam War as a combat medic and later worked in psychiatry at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center. He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant in 1982, after 20 years of service, and made his life in the Augusta area with his late, beloved wife of 30 years, Katherine Potter.

Ed carried his passion for the outdoors into his adult life, sharing it with those around him and teaching many how to appreciate nature. Whether it was coon hunting, horseback riding, fishing by the river, or watching the sunset over a mountain range, Ed always found peace in the wilderness and shared that peace with everyone he encountered. Ed was a founding member of the Walkinshaw Hunting Club and served as President for many years.

Ed is survived by his son, Edwin Wayne Potter, Jr.; his daughter, Rebekka Jean (Jimmy) Jones; his grandchildren, Rylen J. Potter, Mason Mathews, and Marilyn Rose Jones; his sister, Jean (Butch) Johnson; and his wife, Mary Carmen Brown-Potter. Ed is preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Potter, his step son, Shane Blackburn, his parents, Henry and Marilyn Potter and his sister, Glenda Willis.

Ed will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Ed will be remembered not only for his adventurous spirit but for the warmth and kindness he shared with everyone who crossed his path. His legacy will live on in the mountains he loved, the stories and jokes he shared, and the countless lives he touched.