Edward F. Threadgill

On Wednesday, March 2nd, retired Judge Edward F. Threadgill, Jr., age 84, died in Winter Haven, Florida at his home from complications of multiple myeloma. A man of many nicknames including Ace, Red, Fast Eddy, Paw-Paw, and Judge, Ed was born in Mobile, Alabama on December 19, 1931 to Rosa Max Dulaney Threadgill and Edward F. Threadgill. The oldest of four brothers, the family moved to Pensacola where Ed graduated from Pensacola High School in 1950. After three years in the Army (Sergeant First Class), Ed attended college at Florida State University, where he met his wife of 57 years, Suzann Tope Threadgill, on a blind date. The two transferred to the University of Florida, with Ed receiving an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering (1959) and a law degree in 1962. Ed was a member of the SAE fraternity and remained a loyal Gators fan to the end. Following law school graduation in 1962, Ed began his lengthy legal career in Winter Haven, Florida. After several years in private practice culminating in his partnership at Summerlin, Connor and Threadgill, Ed served as a Winter Haven City Judge, then as an assistant county solicitor and assistant state attorney before being elected several times as a Polk County Judge. In 1981 he was appointed as a judge to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, after which he was appointed to the 2nd District Court of Appeals, where he served until retirement. Ed was known to favor straightforward arguments, concise meetings and respectful discourse. Sarcasm and dry wit were also common characteristics of his style, whether in meetings with his fellow judges or on the golf course. A plaque on his desk read "No Whining" which may still be in circulation today. A lover of sports, nature and the outdoors, Ed spent many happy hours with friends and family fishing, boating, golfing, hunting and playing tennis. Recent summers were pleasantly spent in the cool climate of Newland, North Carolina. Ed was a gentle, honest man who used his words sparingly, so if he expressed genuine love and friendship to a person, it was sincere and special. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven and a devoted husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and uncle, as well as a beloved tennis and golf companion to many whom he loved in return. He is survived by his wife Suzann Tope Threadgill; two of his brothers and their wives, George and Linda Threadgill, and Tommy and Bonnie Threadgill, along with sisters-in-law Lynn Timpano and Diana Ray Tope; his children Teri Threadgill McMahon and Edward Tope Ted' Threadgill and their spouses Kevin McMahon and Paula Wallis Threadgill; grandchildren Kelly and Becky McMahon and Taylor and Tatum Threadgill; and 18 nieces, nephews and their spouses whom he all adored. His parents, his brother David Lang Threadgill and his brother-in-law Dr. Stephen L. Tope, Jr. predeceased him. He will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, March 8 at First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven, with visitation on Monday, March 7 from 5 to 7 pm at First Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Edward F. Threadgill, Jr. to support multiple myeloma research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA, 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift, or to First Presbyterian Church at 637 6th St. NW, Winter Haven, Florida, 33881.