Silas Edenfield, age 4 of Lyons, GA died Saturday, May 25, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family. Silas was born in Hemet, California on June 4 2008, but  has lived in Lyons  since 2009. 

Near the end of his life, which was cut short by his battle with Hepatoblastoma, a rare childhood liver cancer, Silas made a request of his family, friends and Facebook fans that people paint their finger and toe nails gold, which is the color designated for Childhood Cancer Awareness. This sparked a campaign that quickly produced a local shortage Gold nail polish, and an impact that , thanks in part to social media, spanned the globe, Silas got the attention of TV stations in Atlanta and Savannah Newspapers around the state, and the winsome boy captured the hearts of newscasters, media personalities, and the office staff of at least one US Senator. Los Angeles area nail polish company, O.P.I., even produced a single run batch of "Silas Gold" Nail Polish for the family.  

Silas underwent treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation and multiple surgeries at both Children's Hospital at Memorial in Savannah,Georgia,  and Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Egleston. The family is thankful for the tireless effort and dedication that the staff and physicians put into Silas' care. Especially Dr. Martin Johnston who went above and beyond what we would have expected. 

Duing his 14 months of cancer treatment, Silas developed a passionate love of Sea Turtles, so much so that the Georgia Sea Turtle Center of Jekyll Island felt prompted to name one of their rescued turtles after him. Silas was also the Guest of Honor at the Tybee Island Turtle Trot, where his namesake sea turtle was fitted with a satellite tracker and released.

Better still than the sea turtles that he loved or the gold nails for which he became famous, is Silas' view of Eternity. From the time he was told that his cancer could not be cured, he was not sullen or sad about the news, only impatient to get his new body, so that he could return with Jesus to get us all.

Details of Silas' Journey can be found on his page  www.facebook.com/prayingforsilas or his caring bridge blog www.caringbridge.org/visit/silasedenfield

 

Silas, who attended First Baptist Church of Lyons with his family,  is survived by his parents, Archie and Jessica Edenfield and three older brothers, Michael, Gideon, and Jason Edenfield  is also survived by maternal grandparents, Jack and Jana Golightly of Gardena, California; paternal grandparents, Michael Edenfield and Patty of Darien, Georgia and Geraldine Johnson of Lyons; paternal great-grandfather, Robert Edenfield of Waynesville, Georgia; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

 

The funeral service will be held Friday, May 31st at 2:00 pm eastern time(11 am pacific) in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home , Vidalia , Ga with Reverend Charles Wood of Calvary Chapel of Savannah officiating.

It is the hope of the family that live streaming audio of the service will be available at www.southestgeorgiatoday.com

Burial will follow in the Reedy Creek Cemetery in the Blue Ridge Community.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00 until 9:00.

Silas' three passions in life were Jesus, Sea Turtles, and Childhood Cancer Awareness. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Silas’ memory to one of the following:

 

Gospel For Asia by visiting their website at www.gospelforasia.org ;

 

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center  www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or

 

Cure Childhood Cancer www.curechildhoodcancer.org.