COLUMBIA - Funeral service for Hammond Eugene “Gene” Edwards, Jr. will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 23, 2009, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Edwards celebrated his 77th birthday January 4, 2009. He was the son of the late Hammond E. Edwards, Sr., formerly of Saluda, S.C., and Louise Davis Edwards of Columbia.

Mr. Edwards was born in Columbia in 1932 and lived here all his life. He attended the old Schneider Grammar School, Hand Junior High School and Dreher High School. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. degree in civil engineering, later receiving his P.E. certification. He was also a registered land surveyor. His career spanned 59 years with many buildings, subdivisions and utility projects having been touched by his expertise. He worked for B.P. Barber and Associates for 37 years, 16 years as staff engineer with East Richland Public Service District and thought he was finishing up his career with the position of director of Engineering and Planning for the Town of Lexington, S.C. He had retired for about eight months when he was recruited to work part-time for Cox and Dinkins, Surveying and Engineering as a site inspector. He was enjoying being back in the work community when he developed health problems and had to retire in May of 2008. He received the honor of being selected as “Engineer of the Year” by the Columbia Chapter of the S.C. Chapter of Professional Engineers in 1990.

He was a member of Columbia Lodge No. 326, A.F.M. (which was later merged with Pacific Lodge No. 325) and received his 50-year pin. He served as Worshipful Master of Columbia Lodge twice and in most every capacity at least once. He was a Shriner, a charter member of Jamil Temple and a member of the Scottish Rite. He was a charter member, and a member for over fifty years of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and served on several civic committees for many years. Gene was an avid boater and member of the Lake Murray Power Squadron. He served as commander of this boating education organization and served many years as an instructor in the repair of marine equipment. He enjoyed many years with his family on the lake with family reunions and weekends at the family lake home. Gene will also be remembered for being an avid motorsports fan. He was a lover of fine automobiles and vintage aircraft. He served as a volunteer with the Celebrate Freedom Foundation. He was too young to serve in WW II, so this was one way of showing his patriotism.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wilhelmina Edwards; two sons, Hammond E. Edwards, III and his wife, Sheri, of Columbia, and Hugh Macon Edwards and his wife, Kelli, of Chapin; and four grandchildren, Hammond, IV (15) and Anna (11) of Columbia, and Griffin (6) and Abby (2) of Chapin. He was a caring husband, father, grandfather and friend who loved to share stories.

The family would like to thank the staff of the S.C. Oncology Center, especially Dr. Robert Smith, Jr., Dr. Bartlett Witherspoon, Jr., Nicole Hendry, Gwen Shannon-Grant and Pam Posey.