Edward Harrell Coach Emory

WADESBORO - Coach Edward Harrell Emory, Sr., 75, died peacefully at his home on Friday, January 4, 2013. A memorial service will be 11:00AM, Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro with Dr. Leslie Stacks and Rev. Ricky Jacobs officiating. The family will greet friends on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Leavitt Funeral Home. The family respectfully requests friends visit the family during the time of visitation at the funeral home and not at the home. There will also be a memorial service at a later date in Greenville, NC. Ed was born April 14, 1937 in Lancaster, SC a son of the late Eldridge R. Emory and the late Eunice Hawkins Emory. He was a graduate of Camden Military Academy and East Carolina University, earning both his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Education. A long career in education, he served public schools as a teacher, principal and athletic director. He taught and coached at Brevard High School, Anson High School and Richmond Senior High School, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson and East Carolina Universities. It was during his time in Anson County when school integration took place and he was revered as a pioneer in breaking down racial barriers. He felt as if his students were a part of his family and genuinely loved each of them. He encouraged many young men, opening his home to many and reared them as his own children. Coach Emory was not only an athletic coach but a 'life coach', teaching the importance of good moral character, integrity and a hard work ethic. He always encouraged a good education and thousands of young lives have been touched and made better because of him. He was very instrumental in many players receiving scholarships and college educations. His blood ran purple and gold. Everyone knew of his love and allegiance to East Carolina Football. Not only was he inducted to the East Carolina Hall of Fame for his football playing but for his coaching abilities, as well. He loved Anson football, Richmond football, Clemson football and ECU football. He has been recognized as Coach of the Year, Shrine Bowl Coach and would always owe a debt of gratitude to his coaching staff, all of whom, he was proud of. He was featured in three different articles in Sports Illustrated Magazine and one entitled 'How To Get The Job Done' can be found at sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079089/index.htm, as well as an Emmy Award winning edition of Outside The Lines on ESPN, which was filmed in Wadesboro. To share some of his notable quotes, 'Give out, but don't give up on anyone', 'Everyone in life needs a sponsor' and his famous salutation, 'Always at your goal post'. Ed was a civic man and served on various committees in the community and on the Wadesboro Town Council. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Wadesboro, where he has served as both Deacon and Elder. In the words of a friend, 'Character has become a trite buzzword in sports, politics and business. Programs, people and institutions clamor to claim they HAVE IT as a quality. With Ed it was a NOUN. Ed Emory IS a CHARACTER!!' Coach Emory is survived by his children, Edward Emory, Jr. and wife, Shannon of Spartanburg, SC, Lucy Emory Hendricks and husband, Steve of N. Myrtle Beach, SC and Battle Hawkins Emory and wife, Beverly of Greenville, NC; his grandchildren, Allison Lauren Bowman and husband, Joseph of Raleigh, NC and Erin, Amy, and Stephanie Emory all of Spartanburg, SC; his brothers, Eldridge Emory and wife, Perry Lee, Melvin Emory and wife, Jenny and Maurice Emory all of Lancaster, SC and his nieces and nephews and their families all of whom he loved dearly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Joanne Edwards. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother and uncle. A revered football coach bringing teams and young men to high levels of achievement not only on the ball field but in the classroom settings. He will be missed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Coach Ed Emory Football Scholarship Endowment, % ECU Pirate Club, Ward Sports Medicine Building, Greenville, NC 27858. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com The family respectfully requests friends limit their visits to the visitation on Tuesday not at the home.