SOUTHPORT — Charles Edward Taylor ‘Ed’ Harper, 71, passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2018.
Ed was born June 2, 1947, to the late James Madison Harper Jr. and Margaret Taylor Harper. He grew up in Southport and graduated from Southport High School where he excelled in academics and all the sports Southport High had to offer.
Ed went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in journalism. Following college, Ed took his first job with the The News Reporter in Whiteville. In 1972, he returned to Southport and took over the position of editor of The State Port Pilot newspaper from his father, Jim, which he held until his death. Both he and his father served as president of the North Carolina Press Association, and his mother Margaret served as secretary-treasurer of the association for several years.
In the words of a good friend, Ed “lived, breathed, ate and slept newspapers.” His life was spent running “A good newspaper in a good community,” and it showed. Under his 46-year leadership as editor and later its publisher, The State Port Pilot received nearly 1,000 awards from the North Carolina Press Association.
He was also involved with many local organizations, readily available to lend a hand when called upon to help fundraise or promote community events and never turned down the opportunity to serve as guest speaker at club meetings where he gladly shared the newspaper’s history.
He enjoyed watching golf and football, but college basketball was Ed’s preferred sport, and he looked forward every year to basketball season to watch his favorite team, the UNC Tarheels. When he wasn’t at his desk at the Pilot office or taking photos of sports events for the newspaper, which he always enjoyed, he was walking with his Golden Retriever, Woody, around the Yacht Basin and along the Southport waterfront where he would talk with friends and anyone he met along the way.
Ed was tied to his roots in the newspaper business, but he was bound to his family with his heartstrings. He leaves behind his daughters, Morgan Harper of Southport and Julianne Hollingsworth, and her husband, Robert, of Burlington; granddaughters, Sierra Shell of Raleigh and Anna Taylor, and her husband, Mark, of Wilmington; beloved dog, Woody; sister-in-law, Ginger Harper; nephew, James Madison Harper IV; great-niece, Kathleen Tuttle of Indianapolis; and great-nephew Clay Tuttle of Raleigh.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Madison “Jimmy” Harper III; and niece, Margaret “Meg” Harper Tuttle.
A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 209 East Nash St., Southport, followed by a gathering at Old American Fish Company, 150 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport. In the case of inclement weather, the gathering will be held at The Frying Pan Restaurant next door.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to The UNC School of Media and Journalism; The Margaret & James Harper Jr. Library, 109 West Moore St., Southport, NC 28461; Southport-Oak Island Animal Rescue (SOAR), 3376 St. Charles Place, Southport, NC 28461; PAWS Place, 242 George II Hwy, Winnabow, NC 28479; or the charitable organization of your choice.
Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service.
