Edward Sidney Dooley, Iii

Retired Assistant Police Chief Edward Sidney Dooley, III, age 74, a resident of Columbia, passed away Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 2PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Barrett officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019 from 3-7PM at the funeral home. Full honor guard will be provided by the Columbia Police Department. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on March 29, 1945 in Maury County, Eddie was the son of the late Edward Sidney Dooley, Jr. and the late Eleanor Detterich Dooley. He served his country in the Tennessee National Guard and began working for the Columbia Police Department in 1972. During his career with the police department, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1982 and later promoted to Assistant Chief in 1991. He received a “Job Well Done” from Chief James Boyd for his assistance in applying for a Highway Safety Grant in 1992. In 1995, Eddie was invited to and attended a ceremony at the White House where he was recognized and honored by former President Bill Clinton for writing a grant for the Community Oriented Policing Services “COPS” Program. He helped with several other grants, including the Edward Byrn grant. He retired on March 31, 2000.

He was a member of The Blue Knights social organization and a member of the Elk’s Lodge. Before his career in law enforcement, he was manager of ABC Cleaners. Eddie was a member of Bigbyville Methodist Church.

He is survived by his fiancé: Gracia Foster of Columbia; daughter: Keeley (Devin) Farmer of Columbia; twin brother: Evan Philip Dooley of Mt. Pleasant; brother: James Michael (Nancy) Dooley of Murfreesboro; sisters: Mary Eleanor Morrow of Columbia, Patricia Dooley (Ray) Strickland of Santa Fe, Susan (Tommy) Yokley of Lexington, NC; two grandchildren: Alison Farmer and Garrison Farmer.

He is also survived Gracia’s family: Amanda (Tito) Zavala, Jeremiah Asencio, Becky (Jason) Parr, Braxton Lee Turner, Allie Parr, Albert Scribner, II, Allisa Scribner, and Albert Scribner, III.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #26: P.O. Box 891, Columbia, TN 38402.