Roger Payne Edwards

Roger was born on May 29, 1945, at Baptist Medical Center in Jasper, Alabama. His parents were Coot and Irene Philpot Edwards. He was named for Roy Rogers and Dr. Payne, the delivery doctor. His nickname became Poochie.

In 1947, at the age of 22 months, he won the "Prettiest Baby in Jasper" contest.
He was a member of West Jasper Baptist Church.

Roger attended Memorial Park Elementary School. He loved school, his teachers and especially being involved socially, a trait he carried throughout his life. He graduated from Walker County High School in 1962 where he was member of the band, the Debate Team, Quest Club, Spanish Club and was the "Highest Magazine Salesman".

He attended Walker College and was Vice President of Delta Psi Omega, Business Manager of the Annual Staff, active in the Foreign Language Club (Spanish) and the college theater. He received the "Greatest Service Award to Walker College S.G.A.", the highest college award given to students. He was also known as the Best Dressed by Bernard's Store for Men in Jasper. He attended summer classes at the University of Alabama and also studied sociology and psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Zale Jewelry Corporation Management School awarded him a diploma and a certificate for Diamondology and Sales. He was given a position with Medco Corporation in Leased Jewelry Management and traveled across the nation setting up retail stores. The last store he opened was in the North Druid Hills Richway store in Atlanta.

He was also employed as Ware House Manager of Shipping and Receiving in the Stone Mountain area by Litton Industrial Products out of New Britain, Connecticut.

In 1975 he met his life partner, Wilson Dwight Burgett. They have resided together in the Decatur and Stone Mountain area for the past 44 years and were joined in marriage July 4, 2015. Their life was bountiful with love, joy and laughter. They traveled a great deal and spent weeks at a time in the "home away from home', Aruba, for 21 years.

Roger owned and operated Discover Decatur Emporium, an antique and gift store, on the square in Decatur, Georgia for seven years.

In April 1987 Dwight and Roger opened "Dwight's Hair Studio" in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Roger served as salon manager and then gained his cosmetology degree and became a hairdresser as an apprentice of Dwight's. He has received certificates of achievement from Redken Laboratories, Wynn Beauty Supply and Redken Corporation and Columbia Beauty Supply, Inc. and Redken Corp. His proudest achievement was being recognized as an outstanding creative hair colorist by Haircolor U.S.A. Arts and Sciences Degree.

He was proud to be an American and believed deeply in equal rights of all people. As a young man he would sneak out of Jasper and go to Birmingham to march with the "Freedom Riders" and protest for human rights. He was sprayed with fire hoses with other protesters.

Roger was loved deeply and will be missed greatly. May he rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in honor of Dr. Leonard Heffner and Christina Chase, NP-C, Hematology Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, 1365-C Clifton Road, N.E., Suite C1155, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.

A celebration of Roger's life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019, in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home with a reception to follow.