William Edward Whitesides, Jr.

Edward was born in Athens, Texas on February 28, 1930, to the late William Edward Whitesides, Sr., and the late Nola Early Whitesides, He passed away at the Tennessee Veteran’s Home in Murfreesboro, TN on April 24, 2021 at the age of 91.

Edward served in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician, 3 ^rd Class Petty Officer during the Korean War. During his service he was stationed aboard the Naval aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea and cruised the Mediterranean and Caribbean. He was a true patriot who loved his country and was proud to serve. He enjoyed sharing stories of the people and experiences from those years throughout his life.

Before the Navy, Edward had attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas. After the Navy, he married Yvonne Baugh of Kilgore, TX and they moved to Memphis, TN where he continued his education at Memphis State University. They spent most of the remainder of their lives in Memphis where they raised their family of six children.

Edward was an enterprising entrepreneur and was self-employed most of his life. He particularly enjoyed his years as a wholesale jeweler and collector, where he travelled and developed relationships with people throughout the Southeast. He loved meeting people and always took the time to visit with them and learn about them, their businesses and their families. Many of the people he met through his business dealings became life-long friends.

Edward also had a passion for swimming and scuba diving and worked part-time for many years as a scuba instructor for the Dive Shop in Memphis. He loved teaching and training others to give them the confidence and expertise they needed to enjoy this sport that he loved.

Having a conversation with Edward was pleasant and entertaining for everyone, especially for his family. He was knowledgeable about almost any subject you wanted to discuss, and he rarely forgot anything he had ever learned. His grandchildren joked that he was their own personal encyclopedia, long before the Internet came along.

Edward was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who loved his family and took pride in each of them and in their accomplishments.

Although his family will miss him greatly, they all rejoice because they know he loved the Lord, and they know that the Lord called him home.

He is survived by his brother, Early Whitesides of Los Angeles, CA. and his dear cousin, Margaret Ann Blitch, who was like a sister to him.

He had three sons: Edward Whitesides III of Santa Fe, NM, John Whitesides and Frank Whitesides, both of Olive Branch, MS and three daughters: Gina Smith of Denton, TX and Geri Cox and Michelle Tribull, both of Columbia, TN.

He had six grandchildren: Christina Smith, Holly Freeman, Jack Fletcher, Cheryl Howell, Jeanne Whitesides, Charlie Whitesides, ten great-grandchildren, and numerous loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne Whitesides, a sister, Evelyn Ann Dandois, and a daughter, Lula Renee Whitesides.

Funeral Services and a celebration of Edward’s life will be held on June 5 ^th , 2021 at Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home in Athens, Texas.  Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.