George, an only child, was born on September 25, 1935, on the family farm in Robertson County, Tennessee, to George S. Edwards, Sr., and Nora Haynes Edwards. Being raised on a farm, George developed a strong work ethic, an interest in agriculture and animal husbandry, and was active in the 4-H Club.
George graduated from Springfield High School in 1953 and went on to the University of Tennessee where after three years of undergraduate studies he was admitted into the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. While a student in Knoxville, George met Barbara Ann Osborne of Chattanooga; and, after one quarter of dental school, George and Barbara were married at Brainerd Baptist Church on December 23, 1956.
Upon his graduation in 1959 from the College of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree, George received a commission as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army where he served in the dental corps stationed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. After the fulfillment of his active duty and reserve obligations, George was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
Upon returning to Chattanooga, George set up his office on North Market Street where he practiced general dentistry for seven years, after which he earned a Master of Science in Dentistry Orthodontics degree in 1970 from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, New Jersey. Once back in Chattanooga, George established his orthodontics practice in the Northgate Professional Center of Hixson, where he would practice for the next twenty-six years. Toward the end of his career, to better serve his patients who were from Rhea County, George opened a branch office in Dayton.
Over the next twenty-six years, George had the pleasure of providing orthodontic care to many of the young people from the Hixson area. He was always grateful to positively impact their lives by giving them a smile of which they could be proud. He was meticulous about his work and treated his practice as a ministry, often quoting "whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord." During his retirement years, George delighted in seeing his former patients and would jokingly inquire whether or not they were still wearing their retainer.
During the course of his career, George was active in the dental community and served a term as the President of the Third District Dental Society and of the Tennessee Society of Orthodontists. He also was a member of the Tennessee Dental Association, the Southern Society of Orthodontists and the American Association of Orthodontists. George was also active in the Hixson community and was pleased to serve on the Bethel Bible Village Board of Trustees. However, he was most pleased with his role in the Bethel dental care program in which seventeen dentists - twelve general practitioners and five specialists - provided free dental care to the Bethel children.
He learned to love the Lord at an early age and made his public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 7, at the Mt. Sharon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Robertson County. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he was the Chairman of the Board of Deacons and served as a Sunday School teacher for the fifth grade boys for sixteen years.
George was a loving husband and father and was very supportive of his family's activities. Whether it was a recital, performance, concert, pageant, contest, meet, race, match, tournament or game, George was there in a supportive role. When his sons were in youth sports, George was there to coach them ( either as a head coach or assistant) in DuPont/Rivermont baseball, North River YMCA (Grass Cutters) football and particularly in North River YMCA basketball. George would often comment on what an excellent group of boys he was privileged to coach.
George loved working outdoors and spent hours on Saturdays working around the house and on the commercial property. Family chores were a given so his sons were required to be ready to work at the appointed time. (Friends were also conscripted if they were "on campus" when the work began.) After George retired from orthodontics in 1996, his pace never slowed as he took on more projects and incorporated his grandchildren into whatever he was doing. George could often be seen driving around the property on his John Deere Gator, wearing his beige coveralls and straw hat. He would often remind us that he was not retired from work, just retired from orthodontics. One family member remarked that George probably would have been just as content riding a tractor all day and hoeing a field as he was in his practice.
George was deeply loved by his family and is greatly missed, but the we are grateful to the Lord for George's time with us and are encouraged that he is "absent from the body and at home with the Lord."
George is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-seven years, Barbara; children, Kim Edwards (Scott) Allison and Bobby (C.C.) Edwards of Hixson; and Rich (Paige) Edwards of Columbia, South Carolina; grandchildren, Drew (Erica) Jeffcoat of Houston, Texas; Ryan (Brittney) Jeffcoat of Signal Mountain; Kaley Jeffcoat (Shaun) Emery of Harrison; Ellen Edwards (Sam) Wicker of Chattanooga; Barbara 0. Edwards, George W. Edwards and John R. Edwards of Hixson; Thomas G. Edwards of Charleston, South Carolina; Brooke E. Edwards of Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Emma M. Edwards of Columbia, South Carolina; great-grandchildren, Patrick, Evelyn, Julieanne, Luke and Will Jeffcoat of Houston, Texas; Hadley and Luke Jeffcoat of Signal Mountain; and Khloe Emery of Harrison.
The family would like to thank CNA's Cel Reid and Contessa Gamer of Hospice of Chattanooga for their faithful service; George's caregivers, Rhonda Meeks, Cassandra Watkins, Christina Holly, Terri West, Gwen Cheeks and Annabelle McClure; and George's physical therapists, Dr. Jen Bambrough and Dr. Chris Merchant.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethel Bible Village, 3001 Hamill Rd, Hixson, TN 37343; First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37402; Child Evangelism Fellowship of Greater Chattanooga, PO Box 3523, Chattanooga, TN 37404; or Changed Lives, PO Box 100, Chattanooga, TN 37401.
In accordance with George's instructions, there will be no visitation. The family will have a private graveside service at a time and date to be determined later.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
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