Ed Deabler was born in Chambers County, Alabama, in the Chattahoochee Valley.  His maternal grandparents lived in Lanett, which remained his home base as his parents moved often around the Southeast.  Ed attended Lanett High School for two years and Smith’s Station High School for another two years, graduating from there in 1970.  He attended Southern Union Junior College for a year before transferring to Auburn University where he became engaged to Nancy.  They commuted from Lanett to Auburn together and worked for West Point Pepperell Mill while pursuing degrees in education.  They did their student teaching together and graduated in 1975.

             Ed taught special education and coached both junior varsity and varsity football at Tallassee High School from 1975 until 1983 when he felt the call to preach.  He attended Emory University’s Candler School of Theology from 1983 until 1986 when he received a Master of Divinity Degree.  Ed served two churches in Opelika while attending Emory, Community and Pepperell United Methodist Churches.  He has served on several boards and agencies in the Alabama-West Florida Conference.  Ed enjoys fishing when he has an opportunity. He and Nancy have a daughter, Taylor Cathryn, who is in seventh grade.