Charles Edward Broyles, Jr

On July 18, 2024, Charles Edward Broyles, Jr., 75, died peacefully at home in Madison GA, with family by his side. He had been previously diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in November 2023. Throughout his life, he treasured his roles as husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend while he advanced in the world of business, finance, and innovation.

Ed was a native son of Gordon, GA, although born November 20, 1948, in Macon GA, the youngest of the late Huck and Peck’s three children. Charles E. “Huck” Broyles was a manufacturer’s representative and oldest brother of Frank Broyles, football coach and Athletic Director for the University of Arkansas. Margaret “Peck” Johnson Broyles was a homemaker, church & PTA leader, and overall dynamo. Growing up in the 1960s, Ed’s formula was “do as you are told, make A's, play sports, cut the grass, go to church, and visit family in Macon on Sundays.” Eddie played quarterback of the Warriors football team and basketball at Wilkinson County Senior High School where he graduated in 1967 as an honor student and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”.

Ed attended the University of Georgia in the Honors Program. He earned a BBA in Economics graduating with honors from the Terry College of Business and was initiated in Phi Kappa Phi academic society and Beta Gamma Sigma, national business administration honor society. He pledged Chi Psi fraternity where he served as officer, rush chairman, & pledge master. Ed received an ROTC Scholarship in the US Air Force and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation in 1971. He entered USAF, Pilot Training in Lubbock TX, and was an “Outstanding Graduate” in the Advanced Jet school. Ed was a SouthEast Asia Combat Veteran pilot in Vietnam and Cambodia for the 374 Tactical Air Wing, Pacific Air Forces. In 1973 he became USAF instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner at Moody AFB Valdosta Ga, and Craig AFB, AL.

When Ed reentered civilian life in 1977, he was recruited by Control Data Corporation to enter their management program in sales and marketing of computer-related services in Charlotte NC, and was quickly promoted to S. E. Regional Marketing Manager. Early in 1984, Ed took a leap of faith to become Co-Founder and Principal of a startup called Source Data that developed the first automated bad-debt recovery, accounting, and agency control network for the financial services and banking industries. In 1993 First Data acquired his company, and Ed helped with the transition before taking a gap year. When he was ready to jump back into the business world, he took leadership positions with various companies that were pioneers in mobile banking and alerting technology throughout North America until retirement in 2018. Even then, family members often asked if he was truly retired because he continued to have business meetings and consult with new companies.

College football has been Ed’s lifelong devotion, so it was appropriate that Ed met Rachel Bush on a blind date at the Georgia/Alabama game in Athens on a beautiful fall Saturday in 1976. Rachel was the former “Miss Augusta” (Miss America pageant) and a high school math teacher before their marriage in 1978. Later in Charlotte, she joined Southern Bell/AT&T in Charlotte as a business analyst and operations manager. After 10 years, she decided to stay at home with their two young children. She has been his love and his dance partner for 46 years. At their first home, the “Bromley Road Family” was formed, creating a community of families and web of friendships that was powerful and continues to this day. Ed was a member of Myers Park United Methodist Church, the Myers Park Country Club, and PTA President of the Myers Park Traditional School. When retirement became a possibility, Ed and Rachel knew that coming home to Georgia was in their future. In 2015 they became proud residents of Madison, Ga, located only 30 minutes from UGA’s Sanford Stadium. In both Charlotte and Madison, Ed and Rachel continued their parents’ legacy to welcome family, friends, and even strangers into their homes whether it be for Thanksgiving weekends, Christmas Eve dinners, New Year’s Eve parties, family weddings, informal weekend visits, or community Tour of Homes. Ed was considered a curator of friends, continuing friendships from high school, college, neighborhoods, and businesses throughout his life.

His exuberant energy lives on in their son Charles E. “Huck” Broyles III and granddaughter Virginia Ann of Charlotte, NC, and their daughter Mary Haley Broyles of Atlanta, GA. They will always remember family vacations at the beach, Christmas mornings, snow skiing, and watching football games in person and on TV. Ed is pre-deceased by his parents and his sister Jeane Broyles Tarpley; survived by his sister Dr. India Broyles (husband Robert Shafto) of Falmouth Maine; and former brother-in-law Charles L. Tarpley (wife Dian Tarpley) of Valdosta GA. Ed was loved by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and others who may or may not be related by blood, but undoubtedly are connected to Ed in spirit.

Funeral services for Ed Broyles will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, August 11 at the Madison First United Methodist Church, 296 S Main St, Madison, GA 30650; Rev. Zack Martin officiating. Burial will take place at 11:30 on Monday, August 12 at the Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ed’s name may be made to the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/give/index.php or First United Methodist Church of Madison GA. https://pushpay.com/g/madisonfumc?src=hpp. Condolences can be extended to the family on the obituaries page of the website of Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens GA. https://www.lordandstephens.com/obituaries