Leland Stanford Edelen, III, known to everyone as Stan, passed away suddenly at Colquitt Regional Hospital on Wednesday January 15, 2025. A graveside funeral service will be held for Stan 3:00 p.m. Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Sumner Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest. The service will be officiated by Pastor Marv Williams and Pastor Garvie Nichols, two of Stan’s lifelong friends. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Pallbearers are some of Stan’s life-long friends: Whit Coarsey, Carroll Coarsey, Blake Edore, Doug Roberts, Carl Nichols, Winston Brogdon, Will Brogdon, Zack Railey, Bo McCrainie, Lee Powell, Randy Luke, Matt Sauls, Bruce Dillard, Brian Curry, and Josh Curry.
Stan was born on May 23, 1977, in Tift County to Leland “Buddy” Edelen, Jr. and Aline Prine Edelen of Berrien County. Stan had two great loves of his life, his wife Ashley and Farming. He never shied away from hard work and never met a stranger. He was always willing to give advice whether you wanted it or not. In 1997 he met the love of his life, Ashley. They married in 1999 and went on to have four beautiful children Bailey, Brantley, Grayson, Emerson and one heavenly son Elijah they never had the chance to meet.
Stan managed the Carroll and Kathy Coarsey Farm lovingly and diligently for 23 years. He always had a wealth of knowledge of farming and would willingly share. He was a member of Mount Zion Ministries in Enigma.
He was preceded in death by one unborn son, Elijah Edelen; grandparents, Lonnie and Ruth Prine; Leland Edelen; and his Mema, Connie Lou Sumner.
Stan is survived by his wife of 25 years, Ashley Kelley Edelen of Berrien County; daughter, Bailey McAnally (Logan) of Waycross; son, Brantley Edelen of Tifton; son, Grayson Edelen of Tifton; daughter, Emerson Edelen of Tifton; one grandson on the way, Elijah McAnally; siblings, Joann Rutherford (Kyle) of Jacksonville, Florida, Wade Edelen (Kayte); mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gail and Jesse Kelley; sister-in-law, Connie Melton (Jeff); one niece, Kelsey Brown (Dillon); two nephews, Kalen Horne and Cole Melton (Bree); and several great nieces and nephews.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 1160 Forsyth Street, Macon, GA 31201.