ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - Edward Eugene Boshears, of St. Simons Island, Georgia, died on July 4, 2012 at his residence. A native of Richmond County, Mr. Boshears moved to Glynn County in 1973. He received his undergraduate degree at Emory University. He worked for a short time as an editorial editor for the Augusta Chronicle. He then obtained law degrees from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University and Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1972. He practiced in a law firm in Brunswick until 1977 and then established his own practice. In later years he worked in many varied fields of law including Admiralty Law, Workers Compensation, and Social Security disability law. He argued many appellate cases before the State and Federal courts. He filed a lawsuit for 115 former employees of a chemical plant in Brunswick and that suit resulted in a settlement for the former workers of twenty million dollars. In 1992 he was elected to the Georgia State Senate from the Sixth District which included all or part of six counties in Southeast Georgia. He served in the Senate from 1993 to 1999 and was the first Republican elected from this District in modern times. During his years in the Senate, he served on the Appropriations, Health and Human Services and Special Judiciary Committees among others. He was at one point Chairman of a subcommittee of the Health and Human Services Committee. His major accomplishment in the Senate was the passage of Georgia s Sex Offender Registration law which he authored. He was instrumental in obtaining funding for numerous projects in Southeast Georgia including a bond issue for the Brunswick Library. He received several prestigious awards for his leadership in the field of mental health in the legislature. These included the Paul Shields Award from the Mental Health Association of Metro Atlanta and the Distinguished Legislator Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. After he left the legislature, he served on the Board of Directors of the National Mental Health Association of Georgia. In 1995 he was appointed by the Governor of Georgia to the Board of Directors of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority. While on that Board, he was a leader in fighting for the preservation of Jekyll Island for all the people of Georgia. He is well known for his generous support of numerous animal funds and the donating of funds for spaying/neutering many homeless dogs and cats. He is survived by his only brother, Willis M. Boshears, Jr. (Janet) of Augusta, Georgia, his former wife Wanda Boshears of St. Simons Island, Georgia, four step-children Zack Conner (Robin) of Mississippi, Mary Beth Welch (Dennis) of Augusta, Georgia, Kristi Williams Hasten (Aaron) of Augusta, Georgia, and Ginger Williams Stubbs of St. Simons Island, Georgia, as well as a number of step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Judy Bazemore Boshears. Graveside service will be held at Westover Memorial Park in Augusta, Ga., on Monday, July 9, 2012 at 1 O Clock. The family will receive friends in the Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home from 2 to 4 PM Sunday 7/7/12. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Aaron Hasten, Dennis Welch, Zack Conner, Charles Tripps, Jeannine Norwood, Liam Welch, Logan Conner and Carson Pilcher. The family request those wishing may make memorial Contributions to the Hospice of the Golden Isles, 1692 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, Ga., 31525. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home of Brunswick, Georgia in charge of arrangements
Published in The Augusta Chronicle on July 6, 2012