Edward Franklin McDonald, 90, passed away Sunday, October 12, 2014 at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson. Funeral Services are scheduled for 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at First Baptist Church of Clinton. Visitation will be held today from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Lakewood Funeral Home and from 10:00 - 11:00 AM Wednesday at the church preceding the service. Interment will be in the Clinton Cemetery. Lakewood Funeral Home of Jackson is in charge of arrangements.Edward Franklin McDonald was born November 11, 1923, in Meridian, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Franklin McDonald and Myra Yarbrough McDonald; brother, Orman McDonald, and his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary Carr McDonald.Ed and Mary made their home in Clinton when they married on March 24, 1946, where they raised their family and owned a successful business. He is survived by three children, Dr. Franklin McDonald (Shantha) of Gainesville, GA; Johnny McDonald of Pearl, MS; and Sonya Amis (Gary) of Clinton, and his brother, Grover McDonald of Clinton. Ed was proud of his seven grandchildren who lovingly called him "Big Daddy": Dr. Heather McDonald, Shilpa Moorthy, Asha McDonald, Austin Amis, Andrew Amis, Alex Amis and Amber Amis. He loved playing the organ, fishing, hunting, and camping, traveling the world, woodworking and making gifts for friends, caring for his grandchildren, and sharing jokes and stories with company. He was a devout and loving Christian husband, father, and grandfather. Edward McDonald graduated from Meridian High School, Mississippi College, and the U.S. Navy School of Entomology in Bethesda, Maryland. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 and was in the Pacific Theater and with the occupation forces of China. He would have been 91 years old on Veterans Day.Edward served as President of Ed McDonald Realty Company, a successful real estate and insurance company, for over 50 years, and built hundreds of houses, offices, and apartments.Active in the Clinton community, he was a member of First Baptist Church in Clinton and was one of the Charter Members of Morrison Heights Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Deacon and served as President of the Brotherhood, and Chairman of the Missions Baptist Church. As a member of Morrison Heights, Edward McDonald served as Music Director, Chairman of Building Committees, Trustee, Chairman of Finance Committee, Property Committee, Personnel Committee, Pastor Search Committees, and Chairman of the Growth Strategy Committee. He was the Past President of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and the Clinton Kiwanis Club, and was a member of the Clinton Lions Club. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clinton National Bank, Peoples Bank of Mississippi, Mississippi Power and Light, Capitol Electric Power Association, Willowood Development Center, United Way, Andrew Jackson Council of Boy Scouts of America, and Jackson YMCA. Edward was Master of Mt. Salus Lodge #595, F&AM, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, York Rite Mason, and Member of Wahabi Shrine Temple AAOMNS. He was active in the Order of the Eastern Star. He served as Past Patron of Clinton Chapter #344, Past Grand Patron of Mississippi Grand Chapter, and Past Most Worthy Grand Patron of General Grand Chapter internationally, where he helped lead the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both women and men may belong.He received the Service to Humanity Award from Mississippi College, and was chosen as Clinton's Outstanding Citizen in 1975 and Who's Who in Mississippi in 1991.Contributions may be made to the Mississippi Grand Chapter and designated for ESTARL, a scholarship program for students preparing for full-time Christian service.
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