Ernest Edenfield

Deacon Ernest Edenfield was born May 13, 1934 in Candler County, Georgia to Freddie McKinsley Edenfield and Sallie D. Tillman Edenfield. On Friday night, August 12, 2016, Deacon Ernest answered the call made by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and stepped on board of the Gospel Train.

His early childhood education was at the Steep Hill School and continued his education at the Candler County Training School. Deacon Edenfield was born on his parent’s farm and grew up farming crops of tobacco, corn, livestock, and cane grinding.

On September 11, 1954, Ernest married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Irene Eason. Ernest and his wife, Irene, lived and worked on his family farm in Candler County for twenty years. He also worked at Green Grocery Company at night while working on the family farm during the dat. In 1974, Ernest and his wife, Irene, moved to Metter after building a new brick home on Ellis Street. Ernest then began working at the Pleasant View Nursing Home for many years and later working at the Metter Nursing Home, Candler County Hospital and Coursey Enterprise until retirement.

Under the spiritual guidance of his parents, Deacon Edenfield joined the family’s church, Steep Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where his father’s family, the Edenfield’s, and his mother’s family, the Tillman’s, and Lanier’s were founders in 1888.

He grew up serving the Lord and became a deacon and in 1996, he became chairman of the Deacon Board and was very faithful until death. He worked very closely with the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association of Hagan, Georgia for many years under the leadership of Moderator Dr. C. L. Anderson, Moderator the Late Dr. L. Perry McNeal and current Moderator Dr. Sinclair Thorne.

He was the thirteenth child of fourteen. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Irene Edenfield; one infant son; his parents, Freddie and Sallie Edenfield; seven brothers, Oscar Clarence (O.C.) Edenfield, James Washington (J.W.) Edenfield, Troy Edenfield, Freddie M. Edenfield, Willie Edenfield, Charlie D. Edenfield, and Warnell Edenfield; five sisters, Vondell Kennedy, Inez Miller, Sallie Bell Rose, Maude E. Ricks, and Triphodia Edenfield.

He leaves to his memory, his loving and devoted children; two daughters, Reverend Linda (Reverend Eddie) Byrd and Sharon (Eric) Norwood, both of Metter, Ga; four sons, Westley Edenfield, Lamar Edenfield and Timothy Edenfield all of Metter, Ga; and Larry (Sheila) Edenfield of Las Vegas, NV; one sister, Mattie Burnese (Morris) Smith of Claxton, Ga; two sisters-in-law, Carrie (Arthur) Edwards, of Metter, GA, and Ann Edenfield of Savannah, Ga; three brothers-in-law, Wilbert (Catherine) Eason of Woonsocket, RI, Van (Betty) Eason of Louisiana, and James E. Allen of Silverstreet, SC; ten grandchildren; Tony Byrd, Melinda (Chris) Swint, Angela (Patrick) Reed, Michole (Glen) Bowman, Brandon Mainer, Jazzolyn Edenfield, Marie Edenfield, Timisha Edenfield, Cale L. Edenfield, and Kenadi Williams Edenfield; eight great-grandchildren; Miciah Wright, Bella’ Rose Swint, Kayla Byrd, Eddie Byrd, Jaden Byrd, Steele Reed, “Baby” Reed, and Xianna Priscella Green and a host of nephews nieces, and others relatives. 

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