Telegraph columnist Corson dead at 78
Longtime Telegraph writer, columnist and editor Edward Winslow Corson died Saturday morning after a short bout with liver cancer. He was 78.
Corson is remembered as “a great writer, a great editor and a great human being,” said Telegraph Editorial Page Editor Charles Richardson. “He was dedicated to the paper. There’s no doubt about that.”
Born in Rahway, N.J., Corson landed in Macon and became a voice for Middle Georgia citizens for more than a quarter century, working at the Telegraph from 1977 until 2004. During that time, he served as editorial page editor, writer, columnist, public editor and newsroom training coordinator. He also served as editor of the Macon News. After retiring, he still wrote columns for The Telegraph.
“As an editorialist, Ed was a fine thinker and an eloquent and engaging writer,” said Telegraph Executive Editor Sherrie Marshall. “He was also a real gentleman with impeccable manners. I always wanted to stand a little taller, speak a little clearer, in his presence.”
Many times, Corson would use his column space to write about his family, which people loved, said his wife, Jean. A column he recently wrote about the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary received a significant outpouring, she said.
“(Most of his columns) touched people in different ways and made them think,” Jean Corson said. “He was careful not to alienate people, yet you know how he felt about things.”
Corson’s last column, published Aug. 5, was titled “Hold on to HOPE.” Although written about the HOPE scholarship, Jean Corson said she reminded her husband of that title as he battled the cancer.
Before arriving in Georgia, Corson was a magna cum laude graduate of Amherst College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and served in the Air Force as a navigator for nine years. He later attended Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., where he graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1966.
After studying at Yale Divinity School for a year, Corson became an assistant professor of English and director of chapel services at Mercer University, which brought him to Macon. He served in that role for a decade, also obtaining his Ph.D in English from the University of Georgia during that time, before beginning his time at the Telegraph.
“He was an intellectual, he was very smart and he knew a lot about a lot of things, and yet he was very unassuming,” Jean Corson said.
When doctor’s told him that the chemotherapy wasn’t working, Corson decided it was time to let go. “Well, we’ve tried and I really do not want to live with my mind unclear,” his wife recalled him saying. At times, he couldn’t write and couldn’t read, calling it “mental anguish.”
‘‘He said, ‘I am ready and I know my God and it’s the best thing,’ ” she said.
It was difficult to see “a man who is so vibrant and so giving, a writer and teacher who just suddenly can’t do any of that anymore.” Jean Corson said.
Their daughter, Katrina Knight, also a English teacher, read the writings of William Wordsworth -- one of Corson’s favorite writers -- to him during his last days.
“I’m sad and I’m going to miss him and I don’t know how I’m going to manage, but he died with dignity and I feel secure that he went straight to heaven,” Jean Corson said.
Ed Corson was a member of Vineville Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday School teacher, deacon and choir member. He served on the board of directors of the Christian Index for five years, the last as chairman of the board.
“He was multitalented,” Richardson said. “He sang in choirs, he enjoyed theater and wrote theater reviews for a while. He was just an all-around guy.”
Corson was a member of Idle Hour Golf & Country Club and Howard Community Club. He served on the boards of the American Red Cross, Macon Arts Alliance, Booker T. Washington Center and Macon Crisis Line.
After his retirement from the Telegraph, Corson was a professor of English at Georgia College & State University. For the past five years, he continued to teach English full-time at Macon State College.
Corson is survived by his wife, daughter, two granddaughters, brother Richard Corson, a niece and nephew.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Vineville Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. The burial will be private for family only in Riverside Cemetery.
Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Vineville Baptist Church, 2591 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA 31204 or The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 4406, Macon, GA 31208 or Heifer International, P.O. Box 8058, Little Rock, AR 72203-8058.
To contact writer Caryn Grant, call 744-4347.
This story was originally published August 21, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Telegraph columnist Corson dead at 78."