Farewell, Ed Cashin

Edward Cashin’s memorial service today was a beautiful tribute to a man who exemplified “a life well lived.” 

St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church was packed with family, friends, students and others whose lives were touched by this remarkable man. Gov. Sonny Perdue even sent someone to read a statement from him. The funeral mass was uplifting, filled with the joy and enthusiasm Ed had shared with so many during his life.  

When Dr. Lee Ann Caldwell talked about how Ed had inspired so many students in nearly 40 years of teaching, heads nodded throughout the church. Lee Ann, herself, was one of his students at Augusta College when he told her she belonged in graduate school. Ed became her mentor and friend, and she now is chairwoman of the Department of History, Geography and Philosophy at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. 

Though Ed earned respect for his scholarship, the public Ed Cashin was only a small part of the real man. I’ve known Ed for nearly 20 years, as a news source, friend, neighbor and fellow member of a small, informal club of people who meet monthly to exchange ideas. Though he was known as Mr. Augusta History and wrote more than 30 history books, his intellectual curiosity and personal concern covered a wide range of topics. I was constantly amazed at the variety of topics about which Ed was knowledgeable. 

He loved to work in his yard, walk through the neighborhood or the Georgia mountains with his wife Mary Ann, play with his grandchildren and work on his golf game. Even though he seemed to be always working on the next book, he always had time for family and friends. He seemed to take everything in stride, never getting too upset about anything. Ed also had a delightful sense of humor and a warm, inviting laugh. He also offered friendly encouragement if you were working on some kind of project.

Like so many other people throughout Augusta and Georgia, I’ll miss him. He made our world a better place.