Rev. Edward E Overbey

Edward Egrellen Overbey Sr. was born on March 12, 1951 in East Orange New Jersey to Edward H. Overbey (aka William Shield) and Hazel Lawson Overbey. From this union there were born 3 children Regina, Morita, and Edward Overbey.

Ed married the love of his life, Sheila Johnson Overbey in 1970. Their mutual childhood friend, Barb, who did the old disappearing so they had to talk to each other, had introduced them and the rest is history When Ed and Sheila met, Ed admitted to her that he had noticed her before at the Salvation Army youth camps.  From their union were born 3 children; Edward E. Overbey Jr., Sharon D. Overbey-Yoder, David T. Overbey. He also raised 2 of his nephews; Mark and Brian Overbey.

Ed attended and graduated from East Orange High School where he excelled in music and sports.  Ed’s talents were noticed by the prestigious Montclair State University where he was offered a 4 year scholarship. Ed knew that he would be drafted so instead he enlisted in the Army where his talents were quickly realized and they place him into their Intelligence division. He was stationed in New Jersey for training (where Eddie was born), Then to Okinawa Japan, (where Sharon was born), then back to the states, and finally to Germany (where Dave was born and where his nephews joined the family after the passing of Ed’s mother Hazel and sister Regina). Following the end of the Vietnam War, he became an EMT in the Army until the end of his military commitment. Before Germany while stationed in Texas, Ed and Sheila heard the calling of the Lord to ministry during a church service.  They answered the call by going through seminary with the Salvation Army. He and Sheila were Pastors in the Salvation Army for many years. After he left the Salvation Army, Ed went through Hamrick Truck Driving School and obtained his class A CDL to supplement his income as he started pastor at various churches.

Ed loved music. If you ever spent any time with Ed, you know his passion for music: singing, playing and writing. Ed was always eager to share his God given talents with the world, singing in choir, doing solos or just breaking into song where he was. Besides sharing his musical talents, he loved to share The Word of God with anyone listening. He was a Pastor in the Salvation Army for years moving from Springfield Mass. to Pittsburgh Penn. to Cleveland Ohio. After leaving the Salvation Army he was the pastor for a church founded by his father, Eternal Security Baptist Church in Cleveland Ohio, and then Soul Outreach number 5 also in Cleveland, and finally Living Word Christian Center in Madison, Ohio before he retired due to health issues that left him unable to preach, drive and stand for long periods of time.  After retiring he volunteered his musical and evangelical gifts where ever needed. He has shared The Word at the Laurels of Canton for the last 3 years, and has ministered at the Canton Towers in downtown Canton as well as Bethany nursing home of Canton.

Ed had enjoyed many hobbies throughout his earthly life, from grilling to tinkering with computers. He enjoyed building model rockets, and even taught the youth at the Salvation Army how to build model rockets during Boy’s Adventure classes (Salvation Army youth program). He enjoyed movies and television shows, everything from Star Trek to Military Documentaries to Sermons and even Cartoons.  He always enjoyed fishing with his sons, son-in-law, grandchildren and friends. He taught his sons at a young age to fish, but more importantly, to be fishers of men for the Lord.  In his younger days, he always enjoyed archery, marksmanship, and martial arts. He passed these passions on to his sons and grandsons. Ed loved technology and had a computer in the house since the early 80s on which he enjoyed continuously learning more about how they work, what he can do with them, and how to program them. He was fluent in binary coding.

Grilling and cooking was a passion that Ed shared with his family and friends. He always loved to grill more meat then could ever be eaten in one day, and he was great at it! Everyone who ate his culinary dishes couldn’t get enough especially Ed’s famous mac and cheese!  Family time was something Ed treasured and rarely missed.

Ed’s biggest passion before his untimely passing was cruising with his wife, Sheila. Almost every year Ed and Sheila took a cruise with their close friends, Tom and Sandy, and/or various family members. From the day the cruise was booked to the day the plane left to take them to the port, we got a count down. "134 days until the cruise!" He liked to shared videos of the various cruise ships with everyone and he would always boast of the wonderful food, the great adventures, the shows, and did we mention the food? The pictures that came home every year show the tremendous love Ed and Sheila had for each other and their joy of cruising.

Ed was preceded in death by his father Edward H. Overbey, Mother Hazel Lawson Overbey, Sisters Regina Overbey, and Morita (Overbey) Bryant.

Ed is survived by his Wife, Sheila. Children: Edward Jr (Nia), Sharon (Devon), and David (Suzanne). Grandchildren: Jessica, Cassidy, Annilese, Zachary, Jennifer, and Asa. Great Grandchild: Jayden.

Ed will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. He loved God, his family, friends and his country. We will miss his gifts of wisdom, humor, compassion, and kind heartedness.  We look forward to walking with him again when we reach our Heavenly home.

If you would like to make a donation in Ed’s honor you can visit any Huntington Bank Branch and use the Account # 02031740269, or you can send a check to:  

                                                                                 Pay to the order of Sharon Overbey-Yoder

                                                                                          3131 Landscape Circle NW

                                                                                                Canton, OH 44709

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