John Eddins
John Eddins, 79, of Chattanooga, transitioned on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, in a local health care facility.
He was a 1961 graduate of R.J. Kirksey High School in Aliceville, Al. John served in the United States Army and was awarded a Certificate for Tank Gunnery for outstanding Marksman with the 1st Battalion 66th Armor 2nd Armored Division, as well as served in Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. John received several Army service ribbons, National Defense medals, and Bronze Service Star medals. He also served 25 years in the Army Reserves. John retired from TVA Nuclear Plant of Sequoyah as a certified welder and pipefitter. He was a committed member of Macedonia Baptist Church, serving 35 plus years as senior chairman of the Deacons Board until his health began to fail him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lenzie Lee Cameron and M.C. Eddins; grandmother, Savannah Cameron; siblings, Emogene Wilder, Geneva Blount, Wilbert Summerville, Sam Summerville, Alphonso Summerville, and Emmy Eddins; devoted grandson, JaMichael Eddins; devoted aunts, Opal E. White and Barbra Eddins.
Survivors include his three children, Angela Roscoe (Larry) Smith of Birmingham, AL, Michael (Audrey) Eddins of Chattanooga, and Nicole Fields of Smyrna, TN; grandchildren, LaQuita Roscoe, Shanequa (Ammon) Nelson, both of Birmingham, AL, Mikhail Eddins, and Ashanti Eddins; great-grandchildren, Devontae Craig and Amari Craig; siblings, Janie M. Eddins of Tuscaloosa, AL, Mary S. Rowe of Birmingham, Linda S. (Robert) Forte’ of Aliceville, AL, Patricia Summerville of Hempstead, NY, Jeanette S. (late Charles) Coleman of Wyoming, MI, Earlie Summerville of Northport, AL, Lewis (Patricia) Summerville, Jr. of Jacksonville, NC, Battle (Robin) Summerville of Chapman, KS, Karla Eddins, Timothy Eddins, M.C. Eddins, and Felix Eddins, all of Chattanooga; dedicated friend, Ruby Young; devoted family and friends, Wanda (Grover) Cheeks, Debora (Brian) Fletcher, David (late Talena) White, Rance White, Tanya Hale-Brown, Beverly Eddins, and the Macedonia Church Family.
John will lie in state on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 12:30-5 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 10:30 a.m. in Chattanooga National Cemetery with Pastor James Calhoun as the eulogist.