Edward Thomas Chaplin

Mr. Edward Thomas Chaplin had his transition Sunday, November 30, 2008 at Our Lady of Louder Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey surrounded by his loving and devoted family.

Anative of St. Helena Island, South Carolina, he was educated at the Penn School on St. Helena. He developed his love of music and sports there, singing in the choir and playing baseball. Eddie was outgoing, friendly and teachers favored him, even though he didn't always want to do his work. He and James Stiney, a boy from nearby Hardeeville, South Carolina, became fast friends at Penn School, getting into all sorts of boyhood mischief and forming a lifelong bond

Upon graduation in 1947, Eddie left the Island and headed off to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied Business Administration and was initaled into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. It was while he was at Morehouse that he met a young woman from Savannah, Georgia named Miriam Thomas.

Eddie graduated from Morehouse in 1951 and set off to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his dear uncle Charles Bolles and his wife, Rachel, had settled. Eddie moved in with them and enrolled in Temple University to study Accounting, and he worked for the United Postal Service in 1952. Eddie and a friend were at a party when he was reintroduced to Miriam Thomas. who was living in Philadelphia with her brother Madison Thomas and his family. This time, Eddie actively courted Miriam.

Eddie made the best decision in his life when he adked Miriam to marry him. On May 30, 1953, they were wed in Philadelphia. They enjoyed being together, laying a firm foundation for a marriage that would last 55 years. They are the proud parents of a son C. Edward Chaplin, and a daughter, Philippa J. Chaplin.

Eddie decided early on he didnt want a life as an Accountant He switched his energies to Education and started
teaching in the Philadelphia School District, first at Grover Cleveland Elementary School and than at Eleanor C. Emlen School. He attended Temple University University at night, and earned his Master's Degree in Education in 1967. In 1968, he earned his Principal's Certificate at Temple. During this time, he also was a Playground Supervisor in Philadelphia's Recreation Department and coached Little League.

That year, he left public schools and joined the Rev. Leon Sullivan's Endeavor Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc, where he trained young men and women for skilled jobs in a variety of fields as the Director of the West Philadelphia Branch. By the mid-1070's, OIC was changing directions and Eddie took the opportunity to return to the Federal Government, this time in the Department of Labor. He would remain in Government Service for the rest of his working career as a Specialist in re-training displaced workers, such as Coal Miners in West Virginia and Western Philadelphia.

Thoughout his life, Eddie was a devout Christian, having accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young boy at Brick Baptist Church on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. He attended Chapel regularly at Morehouse College and together with Miriam, joined St. Matthews AME Church in Philadelphia. They joined Faith Presbyterian Church in Germantown after they bought their first home.

The Chaplin family thrived at Faith and Eddie was Head Usher and taught Sunday School. In 1965, the church merged with Second Presbyterian Church of Germantown to from Germantwon Community United Presbyterian Church. Eddie became Superintendent of the Sunday School and served as a Church Elder, presiding as Clerk of Session for many years.

Eddie and his family eventually moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1972. Eddie and Miriam became active in Cherry Hill Minority Civic Association, and Eddie transferred his membership for Zeta Omicron Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc to Kappa Iota Lambda in Burlington County. They formed many lasting friendships in Philadelphia and South Jersey were they were members of Bethel A.M.E. Church. When he and Miriam retired from working, they moved South in 1998, this time to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where they entertained many of their friends from the North. Hilton Head was a perfect retirement spot for Eddie, who enjoyed boating, fishing, playing bridge and improvisational philosophy. His greatest joy, though, was being with his friends and family.

In Hiton Head, Eddie and Miriam joind Queen Chapel AME Church, where Eddie was a devoted member o9f the Voices of Thunder Choir and the Sons of Allen, In 2008, Eddie and Miriam decided to return to New Jersey to be closer to their children and extended family. They were warmly re-welcomed by Bethel AME Church. Eddie suffered ill health, but was always happy to be with family and friends, watching CNN, telling jokes and laughing heartily. He was so proud of his Phillies in October when they won the World Series and always cheered for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eddie is stll watching over his darling wife Miriam; his son and daughter-in-law, C. Edward and Karen Chaplin; his daughter, Philippa J. Chaplin; his granddaughters: Beverly J. and Miriam F. Chaplin; his grandson, Edward A. Chaplin; three sisters: Ella C. Sturdivant, Alva C.MacNeal and Pearlie J. Chaplin; sister-in-law Shirley T. Wright; a brother-in-law,
Lester Sturdivant; nieces: Delores Thomas, Gewndolyn Thomas, Katrina Wright and Tonda Wright; nephews: Jerry Thomas, Robert Thomas, Bradford Sturdivant, Darius Wright, Timothy Sturdivant, Bratley MacNeal, Randall MacNeal and Cinque Jones; aunt, Rachael Bolles; a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, other extended relatives and friends.

Visitation: 1:00pm-2:00pm at Adams Funeral Services, Inc. Chapel, 510 Stephenson Avenue, Savannah, Georgia.

Homegoing service: 2:00pm, Monday, December 8, 2008 at Adams Funeral Services, Inc Chapel, 510 Stephenson Avenue, Savannah, Georgia, Rev. Stanley Hearst, Sr.,Eulogist/Officant. Interment: Catholic Cemetery, 1720 Wheatin Street, Savannah, Georgia 31404.

Please sign our Guest Book on line at www.adamsfuneralservicesinc,com and obits@savannahnow.com.