Berry Avant Edenfield

Berry Avant Edenfield (August 2, 1934 – May 9, 2015) was a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

Berry Avant Edenfield
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
In office August 2, 2006 – May 9, 2015
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
In office 1990–1997
Preceded by	Anthony A. Alaimo
Succeeded by	Dudley Hollingsworth Bowen Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia
In office October 11, 1978 – August 2, 2006
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Alexander Atkinson Lawrence Jr.
Succeeded by	James Randal Hall
Member of the Georgia State Senate from the 4th District
In office January 1965 – January 1967
Preceded by	Clinton Oliver
Succeeded by	Joe Kennedy
Personal details
Born	Berry Avant Edenfield August 2, 1934 Bulloch County, Georgia
Died	May 9, 2015 (aged 80) Savannah, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Georgia (BBA) University of Georgia School of Law (LLB)

Early years and education

Born in Bulloch County, Georgia, Edenfield received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1956 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1958. He was in the United States Army, Georgia National Guard from 1957 to 1963. He was in private practice in Statesboro, Georgia, from 1958 to 1978.[1]

Legislative

Edenfield was elected to the Georgia State Senate, from Bulloch, County, representing the 4th District in 1964. He took office in January 1965, serving with South Georgia State Senator, Jimmy Carter.[2] Edenfield served one term, until January 1967.

Federal judicial service

On September 27, 1978, Edenfield was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia vacated by Judge Alexander Atkinson Lawrence Jr. Edenfield was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 10, 1978, and received his commission on October 11, 1978. He served as Chief Judge from 1990 to 1997, and assumed senior status on August 2, 2006, serving in that status until his death.[1]

Death

Edenfield died May 9, 2015, aged 80, at Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, from metastatic lung cancer.[3][4]

References

1. Berry Avant Edenfield at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
2. "Members Of The General Assembly Of Georgia - Term 1965-1966". State of Georgia. February 1965. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
3. "Judge B. Avant Edenfield dies, recalled for "rock-bound integrity", work ethic over long career as attorney, judge". Retrieved 2015-05-09.
4. Obituary, legacy.com; accessed May 9, 2015.

Sources

• Berry Avant Edenfield at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.