George Troy Eaddy

GEORGE “TROY” EADDY was the eldest child born April 12, 1942 to Lydia Louvenia Eaddy-Reese and Emmett Eaddy in Coward, South Carolina. He was the first born of twelve siblings as follows: Wardell, Cleveland, William Jr., Rebecca Woodberry (Sista), Lydia Mae Graham (Sue), Mitchell and Eleanor — whom preceded him in death; Sammy, Calvin, Ricky (and wife Lorrine), David (and wife Gwen), plus two brothers “Joe” and Raeford and two sisters, Delores Boatwright and Ola Mae McFadden by father Emmett Eaddy. He received his education in Coward and Florence counties being raised by his mother and stepfather, the late William Reese. Always a lover of children — he helped his Mom raise his siblings and was admired by children everywhere he went. He was taught to fear the Lord at an early age and studied the Bible, teaching Sunday School in his hometown.Barely old enough to be on his own, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland to marry his first wife, Clara Eaddy. From this union came two children, Norma and Troy, plus two stepdaughters, Angela (deceased) and Jerri. Clara’s family was from his hometown and her mother, Wilhelmina became his second mother and promised his Mom she would “watch out for him.” He went on to pursue a long career in construction. A gifted and talented man who professionally performed various Interior/Exterior building specialties like brick-laying, roofing, flooring, tile work, tree trimming, scaffolding, crane work, some plumbing and some electrical work which he credited God for giving him the step-by-step instructions to complete. He was a hard worker. Often in addition to his regular job, he’d be doing side jobs for poor people who couldn’t afford contractors. He was known mostly for his skills as a “Master Cement Finisher.” By the end of the day he would be full of dirt, grit, dust and grime. He would clean-up though. He was a sharp dresser. He loved getting dressed up in bright lively colors, sharp as a tack, with suits, shoes, hat, shirt and ties all matched! During his wild days he wandered away from the church, and became quite fond of the drink. It was during this time that he met and fell “head over heels” in love with “Sweetheart” Margaret, whom he married and remained faithful to for over forty years. He became a father to her eight children: Junior, Teresa, Bobby, Ricky, Gloria, Lil-Lee (deceased), Brenda and Donnell. Together they enjoyed over twenty grandchildren and nearly thirty great-grandchildren. He followed Margaret into the church bringing the six grandchildren he raised as his own: Kisha, Daniel, Tina, Margaret, Tinika and Brian with them as a family “now in the church” making sure she was going for the “right” reasons. Well, the word pricked his heart, and he worked diligently in the House of the Lord, doing major work on the building like fixing the roof, extending the building, breaking down walls to create a dining room for the church, transforming one bathroom into two so the church would have a Men’s and Women’s bathroom. Once the church was visited by a man in a wheelchair. By the following week, he was building a wheelchair ramp. Later, he was ordained Deacon of the church by his Pastor, Ruth Crudup, whom he loved and was dearly loved by. He was a member of the New Testament Singers Choir and the Men’s Singing Group called “The King’s Men.”

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George Troy Eaddy

April 12, 1942 - July 12, 2007