Justin Edwards had a nickname that reflected his love of an outdoor sport: "Catfish."

He enjoyed fishing on the lake at his mother's home in Monroe and Amelia Island. He was a catch-and-release guy. When he attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., for a year in the late 1990s, visits by mom included fishing excursions.

"We went fishing in Smith Mountain Lake and the James River," said his mother, Debra Moon McGlamery. "I think some of his football friends and coaches gave him that nickname. He was constantly fishing."

Justin Forrest Edwards, 32, of Monroe died Saturday when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree in Clarke County, his mother said. The funeral will be at

11 a.m. Tuesday at the Snellville chapel of Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, which is handling arrangements.

Next to fishing, the 1994 South Gwinnett High grad loved football. He sustained a severe knee injury in 1993 that required reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. Before the injury, the offensive lineman had fielded scholarship offers from major universities. He continued to get offers after the injury, but the powerhouse school interest slacked off. Edwards enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy.

"He played on an awesome football team up there," his mother said. "He finished the 14-game season up there and decided he'd rather be able to walk than play sports."

He worked as a commercial electrician for several years.

Other survivors are his father, Danny F. Edwards of Pendergrass; a sister, Debanny Edwards of Monroe; a brother, Lee Tylor of Snellville; maternal grandmother, Sadie N. Moon of Snellville; paternal grandparents, Marion and Carolyn L. Edwards of Marietta.