Edward Wilson Short Jr.

Edward Wilson “Ed” Short Jr., age 83, passed away on November 22, 2025, after battling several health issues for the last few years. He was born on May 13, 1942, in Albany, Georgia, and grew up in Athens, Georgia, where the foundation of his adventurous and hardworking spirit was formed.

Ed graduated from Sprayberry High School in 1961 and began his early working years at Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia, where his father also worked and later retired. After a few years at Lockheed, Ed joined BellSouth, where he built a long and accomplished career. He was known for his dedication to learning, completing every training course offered to him. Over the years, he earned multiple safe-driver awards as well as several perfect-attendance awards, a reflection of his strong work ethic and unwavering reliability. Among his proudest professional accomplishments was being one of four men who brought fiber optics into the state of Georgia, a milestone that helped shape the state’s communications future. Ed retired from BellSouth at age 59.

He was baptized at Roswell Street Baptist Church, where he found faith, purpose, and lifelong friendships. He enjoyed many years as part of the singles group, taking part in adventures, family activities, and meaningful fellowship - often with his daughters by his side.

Ed loved the outdoors and embraced it fully. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting, boating, canoeing, rafting, and camping. His passion for motorcycle riding was lifelong. He had many memorable adventures with his riding group - including full-distance trips up the entire New England coast and all the way down to Key West. He also cherished the countless rides he shared with his daughters and their husbands, journeying together through the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, where the winding roads and sweeping views became the backdrop of many treasured family memories.

His Legacy to His Daughters

Ed passed on to all three of his daughters a deep and lasting love for the outdoors. From camping trips and long days on the water to exploring hiking trails and enjoying quiet moments in nature, he made the outdoors feel like home. This influence shaped their childhoods and remained a cherished part of each of their lives.

From his oldest daughter, Dayna, he passed down a lifelong love of boating, waterskiing, and camping. When her children were young, she and her husband even bought his camper to keep those traditions alive. Ed taught her to be independent and to look out for herself, reminding her that sometimes you have to do things alone to grow. By age 15, she was doing most of the driving on their trips so he could rest - an experience that once led to an inconvenient detour back to McDonald’s after she left her purse behind. What was frustrating in the moment later became one of their favorite shared jokes.

From his middle daughter, Lori, he passed on the value of education, independence, and a lifelong love for boating, camping, and outdoor adventure. Ed lived by example through his dedication to continuing education at BellSouth, and he encouraged her wholeheartedly when she returned to college to earn her BSN and RN, and later her master’s degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. She treasures the life skills he taught her - like the time they were camping with their church group and the men were struggling to start a fire. He quietly called her over and had her build it herself, standing proudly by as she got the evening campfire going. It was a moment she never forgot.

From his youngest daughter, Stacie, he shared his deep love of the outdoors - camping, hiking, and paddling – activities that she has been proud to share with her own children. Ed made sure she learned not just the many strokes of a paddle but the confidence to handle challenges on her own. He taught her how to navigate the currents and trust her abilities, lessons that shaped the independence she now draws on in a career of public speaking and frequent travel. She also treasures the quiet moments they spent reading together on the couch, each absorbed in their own book. Her love for nature and reading - and her inner strength in navigating life - are gifts that came directly from him.

Ed was preceded in death by his father, Edward Wilson Short Sr.; his mother, Bertie Lou Drake Short; and his younger brother, Jimmy Short.

He is survived by his three daughters: Dayna Stephens (Brian), Lori Swann, and Stacie Maxwell (David); his brother Billy Short (Amanda); and his sister Carolyn Duncan.

He is also survived by his eight grandchildren: Heather Dukes (Joey), Tyler Swann, Brooke Stephens, Lindsey Smith (Andrew), Tatum Cavender (Jonathan), Gryphon Klein, Nathan Maxwell, and Rylee Maxwell; and his three great-grandsons: Wyatt, Brettley, and Everett.

He also leaves behind several beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews whom he loved dearly.

Ed will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He is now Two Wheels Up, all the way to Heaven.

Service Information

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, 2950 North Cobb Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA 30152. The funeral service will follow at the same location from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A committal service will be held at Oconee Hill Cemetery, 297 Cemetery Street, Athens, GA 30605, from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm on December 1, 2025, with interment to follow at the same location.