Edward Alan Daughtry Sr.

Edward Alan Daughtry, Sr., 85, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Affectionately known as Ed, he was born on January 24, 1940, in the Suttontown community of Sampson County to the late George L. Daughtry and Grace Sutton Daughtry.
A memorial service will be held on December 4, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel, Greenville. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
Ed graduated from Piney Grove High school in 1957 and went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1961. While at UNC, Ed was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the UNC wrestling team. Ed began his career with Colgate Palmolive before settling into his lifelong career as an area wide Marketing Manager for SC Johnson and Wax Company, where he worked for 30 years, proudly earning the Director's Award. Ed attended Christ Hope Church in Greenville, NC where he cherished and loved his church family.
Ed and his family lived in Greenville in the early 1960s before moving to their farm in Ayden (Hayfield Farm) in 1974. In the early 90s, Ed moved back to Greenville and has been there since. Ed loved Pitt County and everything about it. He was a member of the Ayden Kiwanis Club before joining the University City Kiwanis Club, serving on numerous boards and committees for many years. After retirement, he devoted much of his time to expanding the Kiwanis peanut and pecan sales project and was so successful that the products were distributed all over eastern North Carolina and sold in many Wal-Mart stores. Ed received numerous awards and recognition for his work with the Kiwanis including Kiwanian of the year, the Distinguished Service Award, The International Hixson Fellowship and the Kiwanis International Life Member Status.
Ed loved serving his community and the one organization closest to his heart was the Boys and Girls Club. It was here where Ed began serving as "Santa", volunteering countless hours at various fundraisers and events benefiting children. This led to an invitation from the Jaycees to serve as Santa in the Greenville Christmas parade, which he proudly did for many years. Ed enjoyed nothing more than seeing huge smiles on the children's faces while bringing joy to their lives. In Ed's words, "Every man should be Santa for just one day in his life it changes you forever".
Ed was also a fierce supporter of ECU athletics. He loved the Pirates and had been a member of the ECU Pirate Club for over 50 years, joining it when it was called the Century Club. Up until this last year, he rarely missed football, basketball, or baseball games.
Ed's most cherished and greatest accomplishment was his family. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Lindy Murray Daughtry; daughter Laura Ann "Lauri" Daughtry of Mebane, son Edward "Alan" Daughtry, Jr. (Lisa) of Greenville, daughter Grace "Missy" Daughtry Smith (Lowell) of Oxford, daughter Deide McGee Shelton (Rodney) of Summerfield, and son Robby McGee (Ashley) of Wilmington; eleven grandchildren, Michael Zalimeni (Emily), Kelsey Zalimeni, Blake Smith, Matthew Daughtry, Bailey Blount (Thomas), Carmen May, Austin Shelton, Bella McGee, Myah McGee; and two great grandchildren, Ellie Zalimeni and Eloise Blount. Ed is also survived by his sister-in-law Ola Daughtry, sister-in-law Laura Herring (Dana), and several special nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Preston Daughtry.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in memory of Ed to the Boys and Girls Club or The Salvation Army.