Edward Wiley Durham, age 87, died peacefully at home with his wife, Jo Baker Durham, at his side on June 18, 2020.   Born on September 5, 1932, in Acworth, Georgia, the oldest son of Harvey Edward and Bessie Hardy Durham, Edward grew up in the Mars Hill community, attended Acworth High School, and was a member of Mars Hill Presbyterian Church. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was employed by Lockheed Martin for 38 years.  Ed was member of the Jaycees, Mars Hill Men of the Church, Chattooga County Farm Bureau, and Chattooga County Young Farmers. During his lifetime, Ed donated 18 gallons of blood to the Red Cross.  A lifelong farmer, Edward raised cattle, hay and children in Acworth with his wife, Jo, until 1996 when they moved their farming operation to Lyerly, Georgia.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jo Baker Durham; his brother Jimmy (Carolyn) Durham, his daughter Donna (Bruce) Sausville; his son Jack (Sherrie) Durham; his daughter Patti (Kenneth) Cook; and his son Keith (Kim) Durham.  Ed was Granddaddy Ed to 8 grandchildren:  Lane Sausville, Lauren (Charlie) Hunter, Jonathan Sausville, Tara (John) Jones, Jason (Kristen Tuttle) Cook, Nathan (Anna) Durham, Kimberly Cook, and Owen Durham. He also had a bushel full of great grandchildren:  Sawyer Yandell, Katie White, Mary Alex Sausville, Garrett Yandell, Eddie White, Molly West, Jessica Hunter, Haley White, Brian Durham, Joshua Durham, and Regan Curtis.   He also welcomed into his family Cody Nash, Matthew Stanfield, Wyatt Stanfield, and Karrissa Jones. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Bessie Durham; his sister Marjorie Evans; and his sister Mary Durham Davis.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Mars Hill Presbyterian Church, the American Red Cross or the Alzheimer's Foundation.

The Ed Durham family will be receiving friends in the backyard at 9271 Highway 114, Lyerly, Georgia on Sunday afternoon from 1PM to 4PM.  We invite you to come and share a memory with us as we celebrate Ed's home going country style.  Please feel free to bring a lawn chair if you wish.  We will be practicing social distancing to protect our sweet mama.

The graveside service will be held at Mars Hill cemetery on Mars Hill Church Road in Acworth, GA on Monday, June 22, at 3:30 PM.  We will be observing social distancing guidelines but would love to speak with everyone.