Information Booth Dedicated to Slain Veteran

BROOKSVILLE – On the evening of September 28, 2023, local veteran Edward “Ed” Wayne Mead passed away from a fatal stab wound. It was a reprehensible act that shocked the High Point 55+ Golf Community.
On Saturday, exactly one year to the day since the tragedy, Mead’s family and friends met to dedicate the senior community’s information booth/guard house in his honor. It was a fitting tribute, as the 81-year-old had faithfully served his post as High Point’s safety officer for eight years before his passing.

Mead’s son-in-law, Brian Tipton, spoke on behalf of the family before Darrell Hathcock, Minister for the Church in the Wildwood, offered words of encouragement to the gathered crowd. Shortly after, a plaque bearing Mead’s name was unveiled by his daughters, Rebecca “Becky” Tipton and Kimberly “Kimmy” Mead Semcho.

“His character is what we’re here to remember and to keep alive by sharing our thoughts and our prayers about how he is forever in our hearts,” Hathcock said.

As Brian put it, he would give you the shirt off his back. If you needed money, he would give you whatever he had in his wallet. Mead was not self-centered, he was “other-centered,” added Hathcock. He always wanted to help and encourage his neighbor whenever he could. In his focus on others, Mead embodied the words of Philippians 2.

Though he never met Mead personally, the pastor lives in the High Point area and has heard a great deal about the late veteran’s kind and caring nature. Hathcock read aloud the words that family, friends and neighbors would use to describe Mead.

“He was known as a devoted son, a loving husband, an encouraging daddy, a dear friend, a loyal employee, a kind coworker, a generous man, an example of a Godly man, an encourager, a comforter, a humble man, a caring man, but, most importantly, a gentle soul,” the pastor quoted.

Through the cold and the sorrow, Hathcock urges everyone to keep moving forward from grief to peace and from a “season of broken hearts to a season of healing hearts.”

A veteran of the Army and the Army National Guard, Mead was steadfast in a 35-year career with Roadway Trucking, where he earned the 2-Million-Mile Safety Award. Following his retirement, he enjoyed delivering for Dickey’s Barbecue as well as serving the community of High Point.

He is survived and cherished by his three daughters (Becky, Kimmy, and Melissa “Missy” Richardson) as well as his son-in-law (Brian), his grandchildren (Madison, Crystal, Brandy, Thomas, Michael, Christopher), and great-granddaughter (Violet Tifton). His high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Barbara, joined her husband less than two months later on November 22, 2023.

“They are looking down on us today,” Brian said. “They see everybody here. Thank you all. It just means the world. This is a great honor. I appreciate everybody coming and thank you. We love you all.”

Ed Mead will never be forgotten. With his name now emblazoned upon High Point’s guardhouse, anyone who visits the senior community can learn of the caring man who gave his life for his neighbors.