Edward Tate Brandt, age 85, of Morganton, NC passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, he was the son of the late Eldor Gustav Brandt and Louise Tate Brandt.
Eddie grew up in Ansley Park and spent his youth honing his athletic skills at McClatchey Park. He became a five-sport star at Grady High School, lettering in football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and track. He treasured his time as quarterback on the football team under the legendary coach, Erskine Russell. He received numerous awards and was named the top athlete in the state of Georgia. He received scholarship offers to play football at Georgia Tech and to play basketball at Presbyterian College, as well as offers to play Major League Baseball.
He attended the University of Tennessee, where he was a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity and of the Naval ROTC. After college, he served his commission in the US Navy, where he was on a destroyer deployed in response to the Cuban missile crisis. He married his college sweetheart, Mary Cavender “Cissy” Lyons and then began a successful thirty plus year career in upper management with Sears, Roebuck & Co in Atlanta. He retired and moved to Greensboro, NC, eventually settling down in his beloved Morganton.
Eddie’s favorite pastimes included tennis with his family and friends, following the Atlanta Braves, and cheering on the University of Tennessee Vols. He also enjoyed grilling out and entertaining.
His magnetic wit and love for his friends and family were treasured by all.
He is survived by his two children, Natalie Brandt and David Brandt. He is also survived by his niece, Kim Dechiara, great nephew Brooks Dechiara, great niece Sarah Burgin Dechiara, cousins Charles Conley, Philip Tate, Karen Tate Lloyd and by his many cherished friends.
The family is very appreciative of the excellent care that Eddie received for nearly a year at Carolina Rehab in Connelly Springs, NC, and for the wonderful hospice care provided by Carolina Caring of Hickory, NC.
The family requests no flowers and donations to the charity of your choice in Eddie’s memory.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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My condolences to the Brandt family. I grew up with Eddie in Ansley Park. Literally, from dawn to dusk and sometimes into the night, in our formative years we played, cowboys and Indians, kick the can, fox and hounds, and games we made up. As we grew up, we played more organized sports like football (of course), basketball and baseball. Most of this play was on the outdoor venues of McClatchey Park just across the street from the Eddie's home and the woods surrounding Ansley Park. Those woods are now Sherwood Forest and fast moving expressways. Yes, Eddie was quite the athlete but most of all he was fun to grow up with. As an aside, long after Eddie and I had gone our separate ways career wise, his niece, Kim Dechiara, was employed by my law firm in Atlanta. Kim: So sorry about the loss of Uncle Eddie. Kimbrough Davis PS: Just learning of Eddie's death.