WAYCROSS — Eddie , Sr., 82, of Waycross died Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Baptist Village after an extended illness.

was born in Macon to the late William Carl and Lois Tapley . He graduated in 1962 from Ware County High School.

was married to his beloved wife, Gwen, for 59 years. They had a son named after him, Eddie , Jr.

was well known around the Waycross area owning the Bel Air Court Motel, ’s Amoco and several other business ventures through the years. He never met a stranger and could be found talking to people about the Bible as a Jehovah’s Witness and always trying to help people the best he could.

Being a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, will be deeply missed by his family and all those who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Zachery .

is survived by his beloved wife, Gwen; son, Eddie , Jr.; grandchildren, Ashley Walker and her husband, Mark, and Kaitlyn ; great granddaughters Haleigh and Olivia Walker; two brothers, Charles and his wife, Millie, and Carl and his wife, Geneva.

The family will be holding a celebration of ’s life at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 11 at the dom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.