He graduated from Glade High School and went to Jones County Junior College on a basketball scholarship. Eddie retired after 50 years in the oil industry where he worked in various areas, but completed out his final years as a petroleum consultant. He was known by many as "Big E." Outside of his career, his interests included reading westerns, beekeeping, and cattle farming. Eddie was also involved in the Glade and Northeast Jones youth activities, in which he was once a vital member of the booster clubs. Eddie was a member of Mount Vernon Congregational Methodist

Church.

Eddie is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deborah Landrum Upton; daughter, Jennifer Holifield (Darrell); sons, Scott Upton, Josh Upton (Kelsey), Daniel Upton, and Jacob Upton (Emily) all from Laurel. Grandchildren include Caitlyn Holifield, Cambry Holifield, Caleb Holifield, Zach Upton, Austin Upton, Alivia Upton, Ainsley Upton, and Willow Grace Upton; sister, Lucy Upton Scoggins (Don); brothers, Warren Griffin, and Jack Upton (Linda).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Lonnie Griffin and Robert Upton and Ollie West Upton; sister Ellen Kilpatrick and brother Wayne Griffin.

Pallbearers will be David Landrum, Bruce Landrum, Mike Landrum, Zach Upton, Austin Upton, Shawn Myrick, and Kevin Crowder.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 11th at Ellisville Funeral Home from 2pm to 5pm. Service will be held Monday, December 12th at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist Church at 10:00 am with burial to follow at Tuckers Crossing Baptist Church.