Dr. Edwin Cleon Christian, 99, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2017, at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on November 24, 1917 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Andrew J. Christian and Mamie Teer Christian.

Edwin was born and grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After high school, he attended Fort Valley State College in Fort Valley, Georgia where he received a B.A. in music. He served in the IRC Band after being enlisted into the United States Army during World War II and was stationed in France where he saw occasional combat.

After his tour of duty in the Army ended on February 14, 1946, Dr. Christian attended VanderCook College of Music in Chicago where he received a Masters in Music. With his Masters in Music, he became the high school band teacher at Center High School in Waycross, Georgia. His surviving students believe Dr. Christian was the reason the band at Center High School was one of the best in Georgia. After three years at Center High School, he began his college teaching career at Morris Brown College where he taught music. During his summer breaks at Morris Brown, he went to New York City to work on his Ph.D. in Music. After being awarded his Ph.D. in Music, he continued his career as a college professor at South Carolina State College where he was the Head of the Music Department and taught music.

Edwin was preceded in death by his wife Bennie Ruth, his parents Andrew J. and Mamie Teer Christian, and his brother Andrew J. Christian, Jr.

Edwin is survived by his goddaughter Norma Ann Dawson of Long Beach, California.

A visitation will be held at Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home at 12:30 p.m. on January 25, 2017. Burial will follow the funeral at Evergreen Cemetery. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 PM in Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in memory of Dr. Edwin Cleon Christian to Fort Valley State University, Office of Financial Aid, Troup Administration Building, Suite 113, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030.