Portion of Highway 64 East Named in Honor of Trooper David Edwards

“David Lon Edwards’ life was dedicated to public service. Throughout his life, he served his country, city, and state. Although serving in different locations through the years, David’s roots, heart, and mind never left Wayne County.” These are some words from his family that were shared at the recent dedication of a section of Highway 64 in David’s honor. They may be words written and spoken by his family, but the sentiment is echoed among all that knew him.

David was a lifelong resident of Wayne County. He began his service to our country in 1971, serving two years in the National Guard and stationed in Hardin County. In 1973, he went to work for the Waynesboro Police Department and served in that role until the Tennessee Highway Patrol came calling.

In 1977, David was employed by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. He served for ten years at his first assignment in Davidson County. He stayed there until returning home to Wayne County, where he remained until 1995. The THP recognized his exemplary leadership qualities and promoted him to sergeant in 1995. At that time, David was transferred to Marshall County where he supervised field operations for one year before being transferred to Perry County. He remained in Perry County in the same role until he was blessed to return to Wayne County in 2000. David served proudly and honorably in that same role here in his home county until his well-earned retirement in 2008.

After retirement, David went to work as superintendent for the Waynesboro Municipal Golf Course, a job that allowed him to stay engaged in his community. He remained in that position until October 2020 when he fully retired.

David had many official titles throughout his life; however, the titles he was most proud of were husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Like all other law enforcement officers and first responders, his public service forced him to miss many important family engagements throughout the years, but he spent the remainder of his life making it up to his wife of 52 years, Mrs. Gail Edwards; his two children, Michael Edwards and Keila Akins; five grandchildren, Jamison Edwards, Zane Akins, Skylar Akins, Tatum Akins, and Aiden Kilgore; and one great-grandchild, Campbell Edwards.

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, David’s family, friends, and many of his brothers in the Tennessee Highway Patrol gathered on Highway 64 East at the intersection with Highway 99 for a very special occasion. On March 17, 2025, the Wayne County Commission passed a resolution stating that a section of U.S. Highway 64 from the intersection with State Route 99 to the Wayne-Lawrence county line be named the THP Sergeant David L. Edwards Memorial Highway. After the resolution was passed by the Wayne County Commission and signed by County Executive Jim Mangubat, it was passed in the Tennessee State Legislature as Senate Bill No. 202 on April 16, 2025, and signed by Governor Bill Lee on May 2, 2025.

David Edwards’ many years of dedication to serving his county, state, and country will always be remembered by his loved ones. The naming of a section of highway that he traveled countless times is the least that can be done to make sure all who travel that roadway in the future remember just who THP Sergeant David Edwards was.