Edward Earl Fields Jr.

Ed was born in Mobile, Alabama to Clara Stone Fields and Edward Earl Fields, Sr., on November 8, 1940. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1958. He then attended the University of Alabama, where he was a proud member of Phi Delta Theta. Ed worked at Mobile Gas Service Corporation and later became the head of Governmental Relations. He was appointed by Governor Siegelman to serve as a Commissioner on the Board of the Alabama Pilotage Commission in 1999. He served as Chairman of the Commission for approximately twenty years.

Edward loved Mardi Gras and was a dedicated and lifelong member of several mystic organizations. He enjoyed many afternoons at the Athelstan Club, sharing meals and stories with friends.

His deepest passion was his beloved Mobile Bay. He loved spending time in Point Clear in his summer family home “Cremona”, and then later in Fowl River. Ed understood the importance of Mobile Bay and the surrounding waterways, and fought to wisely conserve those valuable resources. His influence reached into the Alabama Statehouse and to organizations that sought to manage our wetlands, rivers and all our marine resources. He was a passionate member of the Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama (CCA).

Ed fully embraced all that life on the bay had to offer - cast netting, floundering, soft shelling, shrimping and crabbing. His favorite hobbies were dove hunting and fishing. After retirement, he could be found most days fishing at Middle Bay Light or Fowl River. He was often accompanied by a Pelican with the nickname “Slim”, and a great blue heron named “Otis” that would fly beside the boat and sit on the motor, always looking for fresh fish. Ed never met a crab, shrimp or a speckled trout he didn’t appreciate, and he made a significant contribution to their conservation.

He loved all of God’s creatures. He had many dogs, cats, snakes, turtles, ducks, birds and many more creatures over the years. He held a special fondness for his gopher tortoises, which now reside at the New Orleans Audubon Zoo.

Ed was one of a kind and loved by everyone. He retained his sense of humor and wit until the end.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Clara Stone Fields and Edward Earl Fields, Sr., and his brother, George Stone Fields (Cheryl). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lucian (“Poppy") Sparks Fields; his daughters Florence Fields Williams (David) and Frances Stone Fields; grandchildren David Fields Williams and Graham Dickson Williams; several nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to acknowledge with grateful hearts Toni, Leah, Helena, Antionette, J and Eeshee for the wonderful care that they provided.

A memorial service for Ed will be held at Middle Bay Lighthouse at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Coastal Conservation Association of Alabama https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=DG2MVVSQGDGNQ or to a charity of your choice.