JACKSONVILLE, NC  -  Edmund Bryan Garris was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina on December 17, 1967 and died in Jacksonville, North Carolina on February 3, 2025.  Ed thrived in his hometown playing ball and always valuing the comradery of his teammates with whom he retained lifelong friendships as he did with his friends from each phase of his journey.  He was a stellar baseball player, football player, exceptional student and accomplished it all with an infectious smile and positive attitude.

He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1990 and was a walk on baseball player for the Deacons as a pitcher.  He followed this with an MBA from East Carolina University and entered a lifelong career in banking.  He was renowned for his ethical financial practices and served his clients and community generously throughout his life. Ed served as the Senior Vice President at First National Bank and served with over eighteen different community organizations including Past Chairman of the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation, Past Chairman of the Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development Board, the Jacksonville Onslow Sports Commission and Treasurer of the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce, where he was a long-serving member of the Military Affairs Committee.  Ed has been recognized for his volunteerism with the Governor's North Carolina Award for Volunteer Service and the 2019 Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year.  He was a sustaining member of the Rotary Foundation and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

Ed met the love of his life, Paula, in high school and they remained together for 42 years.  They were an unbeatable team in all aspects supporting each other in careers, advocacy and friendships.

Ed was an avid golfer and enjoyed the game as well as his close-knit golfing group as they traveled together enjoying many courses and concerts along the way.  Ed effortlessly embodied the virtues of an encourager, supporter and counselor to all his friends, especially his younger nieces, nephews, neighbors.   He was truly beloved by all who knew him and entered this last week with the certainty of a man whose sure knowledge in his faith left no doubt as to his future in eternity.

Ralph Waldo Emerson writes that "a friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature".  This was Ed Garris.

Ed was predeceased by his father, Robert Earl Garris, Sr.; and his father-in-law, Thomas William Puckett.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Paula Puckett Garris; his mother, Ella Jane Waters Garris of Roanoke Rapids; his brother, Robert Earl Garris, Jr. (Lisa) of Marietta, Georgia; his sister, Lou Reynolds (Chris) of Wilmington; mother-in-law, Brenda Epperson Puckett of Swansboro, NC; sister-in-law, Pam Bennett (Jason) of Charlotte; along with his cherished nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Trinity Methodist Church on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM.  Refreshments will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Trinity Methodist Church in Ed's memory.