The mayor of Gray announced his intention to run for reelection last week, a decision he did not make lightly.
In an Aug. 7 interview, Ed Barbee said he gave the question of running again a lot of consideration. The fact that he is able to be in the office most every day and attend the many functions associated with the position were definitely in doubt not long ago.
A year and a half into his second term that started in 2022, his life changed in a huge way. Barbee said he believes his position as mayor and wanting to return to it was a big motivation to get back where he is today.
He went in May 2023 in for the routine removal of a kidney stone, a procedure he had gone through twice before that year. But this time, while in recovery, his blood pressure started to drop, and by the next morning, Barbee was in a fight for his life.
He had gone into septic shock. The treatment to save his life involved three blood transfusions and strong medications to focus blood flow to his vital organs. He was in ICU for two weeks.
After Barbee stabilized, his wife Ruth noticed his fingers and toes were blue. The hope was that the circulation in his extremities would return, but for a majority of his hands and feet, it did not. He was in the hospital for another 10 days and then transported to a rehab facility.
When it was evident he needed more help than was being offered at any available rehab facilities, Ruth made the decision to bring him home and care for him herself.
At first glance, the challenges Barbee deals with are not noticeable, but a closer look reveals the complete lack of fingers on his left hand and missing fingers above the first knuckle on his right hand. He is now able to walk, despite missing two-thirds of both of his feet.
Incredibly, in less than 14 months, the mayor went from a hospital bed to a recliner, from a wheelchair to an electric wheelchair and transport chair, to a walker. Today he requires no assistance.
Barbee started driving himself again in February of 2024. The progress he has made is incredible to everyone but him. The former marine stated in an interview in August 2023 that he would be back. The only question was what that would look like.
Barbee was back conducting council meetings in October 2023, which was months before he would be able to drive.
The mayor said all the governments agencies he works with were very supportive, and he considers the people of the agencies part of his village.
“They kept me going, helping every way they could,” he said.
Barbee said the activities of day-to-day life have been a challenge, but he is back able to cook, do laundry and other daily chores.
“It’s my therapy,” he said. “That’s how I look at it,” he said.
When faced with a challenge, he finds a way to work his way through it. One of his first decisions when returning home from the hospital was to hire a personal trainer, Steve Elmore, to work on strength training several times a week.
Barbee said former Mayor Gus Wilson furnished him with transportation to and from doctor visits from the very beginning, and he also expressed his appreciation to the people at Hometown Orthopedics.
“I went in the door in a transport chair, and they helped me to walk out,” he said.
The mayor said people in the community and his church made sure they had food.
“Beth Coon still brings us plates,” he said.
Barbee considers those challenges in the past. He said he enjoys being mayor and all that goes with it. His current positions include being chairman of the Jones County Board of Health, a member of the Jones County Library Board of Trustees, member of the Central Georgia Technical College Board of Trustees, executive cabinet member for Middle Georgia Regional Commission, vice chairman of the Middle Georgia Clean Air Commission and a member of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government Municipal Training Board.
“I support the new businesses in Gray, Trinabells Diner, Osaka and Wendy’s that all opened this year,” he said.
Barbee said he supported the purchase of 102 E. Clinton St. that is part of a future plan for a city government complex, and he has been working with the leadership of the Georgia Department of Transportation for better signage, road improvements and relief with maintenance of former state routes.
“We’ve been working with the county, and I’m pleased with the joint projects we have agreed upon,” the mayor said.
Looking toward another term, Barbee said his plan is to continue to work to maintain the city’s roads and look for more opportunities for development in the city, both residential and commercial.
Barbee said a big part of being the mayor of Gray is being an ambassador for the city.
“I take that to heart. At all the meetings I attend, I take every opportunity to brag on my city and what is happening in our great town,” he said.
