The Rev. Dr. Edward Reid Lycett, of Warner Robins, passed away at home on Wednesday May 10, 2023. He was 72. Edward was born in Atlanta July 12, 1950, and was preceded in death by his parents Henry Harralson Lycett and Elise Reid Lycett.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years Brenda Hopper Lycett and two adult children, Erin Elise Lycett and Henry Keith (HK) Lycett. Edward is also survived by his brother Paul William Lycett; and Paul’s daughters Mary Beth Smart (Kirby) and their children Weston, Julia, and Andrew; and Anne Toothaker (Michael) and their children Jane and Lyla. In addition, Edward is survived by many cousins and their families.
Edward graduated from Brown High School in 1968 and from Brewton Parker College in 1970. While at Brewton Parker he served as Minister of Music at First UMC in Vidalia. He then graduated from Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, with a degree in Elementary Education. As a student at Georgia College he served as Minister of Music at Mosleyville Baptist Church. Most importantly, at Georgia College he met his future wife Brenda Hopper whom he married August 12, 1972. He then was called to First Baptist Church, Sandersville where he was ordained into the Gospel Ministry and encouraged to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He graduated from seminary with a degree in Religious Education in May 1976.
As a seminarian, he served as Minister of Music and Youth at First Baptist Church, Butner, NC, then at Lafayette Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC. After graduating, he served with Dr. Wray Ivey at First Baptist Church, Swainsboro. Ed also served First Baptist Church in Brunswick, and First Baptist in LaGrange. Following LaGrange, he served for a number of years in the Sunday School Department of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Ed returned to local church work, serving at Clairmont Hills, Decatur, then at Coulter Road, Amarillo, TX, where he became a certified church administrator. Returning to Georgia, Ed served as Minister of Administration and Education at Shirley Hills Baptist Church, Warner Robins for 11 years, during which time he earned his Doctorate in Church Education.
Following his time at Shirley Hills, Ed served as Minister of Education and Administration at First Baptist Church, Douglas, GA, after which he retired from full-time ministry. However, during retirement he served as interim pastor at Stokesville, GA, then pastored Sand Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Douglas.
In 2020, he and Brenda returned home to Warner Robins and Shirley Hills Baptist Church where he helped teach a men’s Sunday School class until May 1, 2023.
A memorial gathering will be Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Shirley Hills Baptist Church. A memorial service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. in the Shirley Hills Baptist Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Edward Lycett to Brewton-Parker College Music Department at 201 David-Eliza Fountain Circle, Mt. Vernon, GA 30445.
Go to www.mcculloughfh.com to sign the Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.