Edwin Turner (Ned) Fretwell

Our beloved Ned was made present with the LORD, and free indeed on Tuesday the 15th of June 2021, when he moved from his earthly tent to his heavenly home. Ned passed from acute respiratory failure in the ICU at Piedmont-Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville, Georgia, just four months after his mother’s passing of the same cause at the same hospital. His passing was peaceful, surrounded by his fiancé, Michele Midwinter, his sister, Sallie, his brother-in-law, Richard (Metzger) and his friend Father Andy Ellis.

Ned was born Edwin Turner Fretwell on the 29th of May 1967 to Marvin Lewis and Virginia Rathburn Fretwell, in Smithtown, Long Island, New York. He grew up in the hamlet of St. James, within the township of Smithtown, with his brothers, (David) Tucker and Matthew (Thomas) Fretwell and sister, Sallie (Sarah Fretwell Metzger.) Ned is a graduate of Smithtown High School East, St. James, NY; earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY; and his master’s degree in business administration, Management and Finance at Averett University, Danville, Virginia. Ned was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Epsilon Fraternity, where he was a past president of the Rochester, NY chapter.

Ned’s foremost source of joy and pride were by far his children, Samuel Turner Fretwell, age 22 and Kailey Shea Fretwell, age 19, who are both students at Towson University, Towson, Maryland. Sam is in his last year and will graduate with a degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business. Kailey is going into her second year and is studying Business with a focus in Finance. Sam and Kailey’s mother is Ned’s former wife, Kathleen Fretwell, with whom Ned and his family have maintained a close and loving relationship.

Most of Ned’s professional career was in sales, like his father. His work afforded him the opportunity to travel the country and wherever he went, he touched lives and made friends. Ned was generous to a fault, giving food, clothing and money to people he saw in need, going so far as to bring people home with him who had no place to go. Ned was deeply moved by the needs and pains of others and couldn’t turn his head away from someone he believed he could help.

Ned was a sports fanatic his whole life through, with his first love being baseball. He dreamed of being a major league catcher like his idol, Thurman Munson. He ultimately set his sights on a business career, but his love of sports and athleticism never waned. He was up for a fishing trip anytime, any day. He especially loved going out around the Hatteras, NC area with his father and brothers. He was an avid NASCAR fan and loved to go to the races with his brother Tucker, where they would camp with the other followers. He was a lifelong Washington (Redskins) football fan, a die-hard New York Yankees and New York Rangers fan. He trained as a body builder and trainer and was most recently a self-proclaimed “gym rat” at One Life Fitness in Peachtree City, Georgia. He absolutely loved being active in the Georgia Obstacle Racers and Mud Runners, and the Atlanta Rucking Club.

Throughout Ned’s life, in good times and not-so-good times, his faith in God has been his anchor. His love for his Savior Jesus Christ has never ceased to be his real strength, and his greatest comfort. Family was of the utmost importance to Ned and he would want for his surviving, beloved family members to be acknowledged: His aunts, Betty Atkinson and Hazel Jones; his cousins, Amy, Laura, Treacy, Allison, Ellen and Fred; his nephews, Devon, Thomas, George and Charles and his nieces, Kathleen, Hailey and Caroline. Ned was a member of The Cathedral of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in Sharpsburg, Georgia where there will be a Celebration of Life service on the 17th of July at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Ned’s home Church, The Cathedral of Christ the King. To donate you can call 770-252-2428 or send a check to the church at 4881 Georgia Highway 34 Sharpsburg, Georgia 30277. If sending a check, please put Ned’s name in the memo to indicate it’s a donation in his memory.