Telford Edwin Elders

Telford Edwin Elders

On May 19, 2015, Ed Elders passed away at University of Michigan Hospital surrounded by his family.

Telford "Ed" Elders was born on October 25, 1943 to Telford "Docky" Elders and Evelyn Yeomans Elders. He was the first child for the couple. Ed was raised in Reidsville, Georgia, and was a resident until he headed off to college.

Ed attended school in Reidsville, graduating from Reidsville High School in 1961 as the class salutatorian. During his upbringing, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Reidsville and active both on the football team and multiple clubs.

Eager to see the world, Ed left home and studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology earning his Bachelor of Science in 1965. He continued his studies at Georgia Tech completing a Masters of Science in Textile Chemistry in 1966.

Ed heeded the call to service and joined the Army in 1966 while still at Georgia Tech.  As an officer in the Quartermaster Corps, he served at various bases around the world in Germany, Japan, Texas and two tours of duty in Vietnam in the late 1960s.

While stationed at Lackland AFB in Texas, he married Min Ja Choi with whom he became the father of two children, Teresa and Thomas.  Ed retired from the US Army after 20 years of faithful service in August 1985, and embarked on his second career in criminal justice.

Following his divorce from Min in 1984, Ed married Rosita Go whom he met while stationed in Romulus, New York a few years before his retirement from the Army.

After graduating from Cooley Law School, Ed worked as a probation officer for the State of Michigan from 1992 to 2002.  He started his own law firm in 2003 and served residents of Monroe, Michigan until he retired again in 2013.

During his retirement, Ed traveled the country visiting friends and family.  He was an avid photographer, reader and a train enthusiast.  Ed was a member of many clubs in the Monroe area including the historical society.

He is survived by his wife Rosita, children Thomas and Teresa, sister, Fleta Elders Wood, and granddaughter Rachel McCue.

A funeral will be held at the Reidsville United Methodist Church in Reidsville, GA, at 4pm on June 6, 2015.  The family will receive friends beginning at 3pm also from the Church.  Interment will follow in the Reidsville City Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Reidsville United Methodist Church or the American Diabetes Association.

Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Elders family.