Edward "Eddie" Johnston Baysden

Edward J. Baysden (“Eddie”) died on April 10, 2022, following years of bravely combatting interstitial lung disease complicated by severe rheumatoid arthritis. He was born October 22, 1947, tipping the scales at a whopping 2 ¾ lbs at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC, to the late Earl Thomas Baysden, and Nelle Johnston Baysden, of Rocky Mount, NC. He is also preceded in death by his brother, Earl Thomas Baysden, Jr. (“Tommy”), of Beaufort, SC.

A cradle Episcopalian, Eddie was baptized at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and later served the parish devotedly as Warden, Vestry Member, Chalice Bearer, Lay Reader, Sunday School Teacher and Youth Group Director.

Eddie attended Rocky Mount City Schools, and was ultimately elected President of the Student Body at Rocky Mount Senior High. Earning a final rank of 3/350 students, Eddie was honored with the Kiwanis Scholarship in 1966. Later, at NC State University, he served as a Freshman Senator, Social Chairman for Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, and also acted as Director of New Arts, Inc. -- the campus-wide group charged with securing entertainment for the University, booking the best bands in the South like The Swinging Medallions, Bill Deal and the Rhondels and Gene Barbour and the Cavaliers, among many more. He was most proud of helping bring the likes of Stevie Wonder, Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Jose Feliciano and The Happenings to Raleigh for the first time. Eddie graduated in 1970 with a B.A. in Economics.

Following college and for most of his adult life, Eddie continued to serve the University as a member of the John T. Caldwell Scholarship Committee, and the Roy H. Park Scholarship Regional Selection Committee Leader, of which he was a founding member. He was also a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the College of Education Foundation. His love of NC State athletics was exemplified by his 25 years as Chairman of the Nash County Chapter of the Wolfpack Club and his production of numerous projects for the Department of Athletics.

Guided by his parents’ lifelong stewardship to others, Eddie joyfully took up the torch as a committed community servant, helping dozens of causes in Rocky Mount and beyond. Just in his mid-twenties, Eddie was recognized by the Rocky Mount Jaycees as winner of the prestigious Distinguished Citizen Award for his extraordinary community service. He was most proud to have helped in the creation and/or development of The Down East Partnership for Children; the United Community Ministries Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen; the steering committee for the new Braswell Memorial Library; the Carolinas Gateway Partnership for Economic Development, and Debbie’s Fund, founded to honor the late Deborah S. Kornegay.

Eddie’s business career included award-winning Marketing, PR and Corporate Video recognition for an impressive client list, among them: Hardee’s, PNC Bank (RBC), NC State University, Bristol-Myers Squibb, ABB, The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, and The North Carolina Bankers Association. His greatest professional honor was acting as the Marketing and PR Director for the NC First Flight Centennial Commission, the state-appointed group formed to commemorate the Wright Brothers historic first flight at Kill Devil Hills in 1903. He wrapped up his distinguished career by faithfully serving as CEO of The Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce for ten years.

At retirement, Eddie and Jenny relocated to Sarasota, FL, where he volunteered for many years as Ambassador at the fabled John and Mabel Ringling Museum, and as a greeter at St. Boniface Episcopal Church. They ultimately returned to North Carolina to be closer to family.

Eddie is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Jenny Morris Baysden, of Raleigh, NC -- friends and family alike surely know Jenny deserves a Presidential Medal for surviving this many years with Eddie; Daughter, Arrington Baysden Howard and husband, William Harrison Howard, and their daughter, Baysden Estella Howard, of Raleigh, NC; and Daughter, Nelle Johnston Baysden, “Baby Tar Heel”, of Brooklyn, NY.

Also left to cherish his memory is sister-in-law, Cynthia Bullard Baysden, of Beaufort, SC, and her sons Earl Thomas Baysden III (“Chip”) of Greenville, SC, and Andrew Bullard Baysden of Charlotte, NC, and his family.

In Eddie’s honor, a Memorial Service will be held at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount, NC at 11:00 AM on April 30, 2022. There will be a reception immediately following in the Church’s Parish Hall. Private burial will be held at Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.

Please consider honoring Eddie’s memory with gifts to: The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount, NC; St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Sarasota, FL; Church of The Nativity, Raleigh, NC, or The John and Mabel Ringling Museum, Sarasota, FL, and/or The Circus Conservatory, Sarasota, FL.

Service arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh. Condolences may be made at www.brownwynneraleigh.com