Edwin Carroll Poss

Edwin Carroll Poss of Clayton, GA and formerly Athens passed away on December 23, 2017 following a
brief illness. He was a businessman with a fifty‐year career in Rabun County alone and had recently
celebrated his 90th birthday. He was known for his positive can‐do attitude, which he enabled in those
who knew him.

He was born to Summie Jewel and Irene Parker Poss in Athens, GA on September 1, 1927. After
graduating from Athens High School, Class of 1945, he attended the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now
Auburn University, where he played football before joining the United States Navy. Following his
military service, he returned to Athens where he later started his own company in insurance and real
estate. During the 1950’s and 60’s, he also served multiple terms as State Representative in the
Georgia General Assembly, representing Madison and Banks Counties.

After his service in the Georgia Legislature, he and Mary George decided to move permanently to
Rabun County and their beloved home on Lake Rabun. This was the summer of 1969 when he felt it
was the right time to bring his real estate business to Clayton.

During the nearly fifty years that followed he had a vision and a tremendous impact on the
growth and development of Rabun County. Among his accomplishments was his participation in
bringing Schlumberger, previously Sangamo Corporation, to Rabun County in 1978, which was a
large employer for the area; there were other small businesses to follow. Savannah Place Shops was
the first small shopping center in downtown Clayton and Stornoway Condominiums were the first of
it’s kind in Rabun County; Ginger Creek Condominiums followed. He developed many residential
home communities, among them Spruce Creek, Northridge, and Highland Gap in North Carolina.
His original company formed in 1968 was Edwin C. Poss, Inc and over the years under that
umbrella, he owned Century 21 Poss Realty, Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes and presently ReMax of
Rabun. He also was called to serve as an Expert Opinion Witness when needed in real estate trials.
His work ethic, positive attitude and lifelong dedication to the success of his extended work family
was his trademark. His work was his hobby, and true to form continued to work in his office five or
six days a week until two weeks ago.

He was a long time Bank Director and Board Member of Regions Bank, Clayton and its parent
company Bancorp in Gainesville, GA; and founding Director of Mountain Heritage Bank, Clayton.
He was active in many community organizations including the early Tourism and Development for
promoting Rabun County, The American Legion, which he was a 55-year member, The Clayton
Chapter of Rotary International, where he was awarded The Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence
Award for exemplary Vocational Service and The Presidential Citation Award for his local leadership
and commitment to “service above self”. He was also a recipient of The Clayton Tribune Rabun
Legacy Award, recognizing distinguished residents who have honored the county. In 2013, he
received the Realtor Emeritus status in recognition of forty cumulative years of membership in the
National Association of Realtors. He was an avid supporter of local charities. A man of strong faith
who always knew where his strength came from.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Martha Poss Brake, a brother Summie Jewel
Poss, Jr and a son John Greg Poss. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary George Barber Poss;
two children, Jamie Poss Darrah and husband Tim of Clayton and Scott Poss and wife Pat McKay
Poss of Tiger; five grandchildren, Ashley Martin and wife Rabun, Clayton, Ryan Martin and wife
Shelley, Augusta, GA, Jordan Poss and wife Sarah of Greenville, SC, Meredith Poss Thompson and
husband Yance, Clayton and Nicolaus Poss and wife Carrie, Clayton and fifteen great-grandchildren.
He enjoyed traveling, playing golf with grandsons and friends, painting and cooking also known
as “Main Street Kitchen”.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Ed—a survivor of childhood polio—be honored with
memorial donations to the Rotary International’s “End Polio Campaign”, either online at
endpolio.org/donate or via mail to The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago,
IL 60693.

Ed leaves behind an example of hard work diligence, endurance, and devotion to family and
community that spans nine decades. Some of his favorite quotes are: “Over Prepare Then Go With
The Flow”, “However Good or Bad a Situation Is, It Will Change”, “Believe in Miracles”, “The Best Is Yet
to Come”, and “What Truly Matters In The End, Is That You Loved”.

It can be said of him, as it says in the parable in Matthew 25: “After a long time the lord of those
servants cometh, and reckoned with them. And so, he that had received five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, ‘Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained
beside them five talents more.’ His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord.’”

There will be a joyous Celebration of Life held on Saturday January 6th, 2018 at the Rearden Theater at Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. The family will receive friends from 9:30 am until 11:00 am with a memorial service to begin at 11:00 am with Rev. Don Barber officiating.

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