Edith Fautt Long

1919 - 2014

Edith Fautt Long

Melbourne, FL

Edith Fautt Long, 95, whose abundant energy found its best expression in her devotion to her late husband, Colonel (USAF, Ret.) Mahlon H. Long, Jr., their seven children, the innumerable children she taught, and her faith, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, in Melbourne, FL. Born in Pulaski, TN on March 25, 1919, Edith was the daughter of Robert Hugh Fautt and Melinda Stevenson Fautt of Giles County. Her only sibling, Capt. Robert H. Fautt, Jr., (USMA, Class of 1943), who served as a fighter pilot in Europe during WWII, was killed in a plane crash in Jamaica in 1947 at age 29, while participating in an air show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Army Air Force.  Her 52-year marriage to Mahlon, her high school sweetheart, began in November, 1941 on the eve of Pearl Harbor and a subsequent military life that would envelop their lives for three decades. Edith will be remembered for her classic beauty, gracious Southern hospitality, and vivacious personality.  Her sense of service and her passionate love for children led her to become an elementary school teacher in a vocation that lasted nearly as long as her husband's military career in tours of duty across the U.S. and abroad.  In the early 1960s she was among the first to teach disadvantaged children under Lyndon Johnson's Head Start Program.  She was honored by her peers as an Officers' Wives' Club president and, upon Mahlon's retirement, in 1972, by the Defense Department for her extraordinary service, dedication and selfless sacrifice in deference to her husband's career, her family, and her country. Edith's joy in seeing the difference education could make in helping children gain new insights was never lost on herself.  Notwithstanding the care of a large family and being immersed in military settings which demanded constant sacrifices, she worked steadily toward completion of her joint B.S. / M.S. degree from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College at age 57.  As a mother who organized frequent outings, she joined her family as a student, exploring and enjoying the cultural richness of the many places—from England to Hawaii—that she called home. Edith was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski where she researched and completed an extensive memorial catalog of members who served their country during wartime in order for the church to honor them.  Upon Mahlon's death in 1993, Edith moved to Melbourne, FL to be near her eldest daughter. 

Edith's family will remember and celebrate her life at The First Presbyterian Church at a future date to be announced, after which she will be laid to rest in Maplewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski, 202 S. Second St, Pulaski, TN 38478. Edith is survived by her four daughters and three sons, Melinda Miller (Renny; dec. 2005) and Mary Graham (Jeffrey; dec. 2001), both of Indian Harbour Beach, FL; Col. (USAF, Ret.) Mahlon H. Long III (Jenni), Asheville, NC; R. Mitchell Long, Delray Beach, FL; Edith R. Long, Orlando, FL; James W. Long, New York, NY; and Joanne Rasco (Scott), Asheville, NC.  She is also survived by six grandchildren, Andrew Graham, Ian Graham, Mahlon Long IV, James Long (Maria), William Rasco and Emma Rasco; sister-in-law, Anne Broussard Fautt and niece, Susan Fautt Blankenship (Ron), Houston, TX