UPDATE: Ed DeFore memorial planned at sports complex bearing his name

The public memorial is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on the football field at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex.

UPDATE: A public memorial for former longtime Macon commissioner Ed DeFore is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex.

A family member says the memorial will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the football field.

The family says the earlier start time was chosen because of the heat, with older community members expected to attend.

According to the family, the mayor, former commissioners, school board members and others are expected to speak.

DeFore died last month at 94. Macon’s Ed DeFore Sports Complex was named in his honor.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Former longtime Macon commissioner Ed DeFore has died at 94.

Macon-Bibb Coroner Leon Jones says DeFore died on Tuesday around 3:45 surrounded by his family at a personal care home. He called him one of his mentors and said he was “completely heartbroken.”

“He was a ringleader for this city,” Jones said. “It didn’t matter what ward you lived in. If you called him, he would get the problem solved. It didn’t matter what color you were. He was a great leader.”

DeFore served in Macon government for decades before retiring in 2016 after nearly 45 years in public office.

DeFore represented Ward 2, Post 3 beginning in 1971 and also served on the Bibb County School Board, making him the only official in city history to hold both positions at the same time.

During his career, DeFore also served on the Macon Water Authority commission and helped establish multiple little league sports programs across the community.

The Ed DeFore Sports Complex in Macon was named in his honor.

“My vision for the community was trying to let the people know here in Macon and Middle Georgia that we care about the lives of all the people,” he told 41NBC in 2016.

Jones says arrangements will be handled by Snow’s Macon Memorial Park.