Edward P. Silva, 83, of Franklin, Tennessee, died September 28, 2026. He was born December 18, 1942, in Marlborough, Massachusetts, to Anthony John and Ida Martino Silva. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Silva. 

Mr. Silva is survived by his wife, Suzanne “SuSu” Alexander Silva; his daughter, Alexandra “Ali” Silva; his son, Anthony “Tony” J. Silva; grandchildren Jane and Jack Fannon; his sister, Janice Silva; and other loving family members.

Ed was known for his quick wit, charm, and his love of sports, which stemmed from his years as a hockey player and football quarterback at Marian High School. A graduate of Boston College (B.S.B.A., 1965) and Nashville School of Law (J.D.,1974), Mr. Silva completed the United States Naval Officers Candidate School and served in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant from 1965 to 1969, on the USS Constellation during the Vietnam War.

During his military service, Mr. Silva met a Southern beauty (SuSu) during a fateful summer in Cape Cod. They stayed in contact during his Navy tours, and their relationship endured across assignments until they were married on May 5, 1968, in Tennessee. 

He began his legal career in 1974, starting his practice with his father-in-law, Dave A. Alexander. He later branched out to form a law partnership with Mark Hartzog and Don Harris, creating Hartzog, Harris & Silva. 

Mr. Silva was a founding member of the law firm Hartzog & Silva, PLLC in Franklin, where he practiced for more than 45 years, focusing on family law and mediation. He was a certified Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (1995) and served as a Rule 31 listed civil mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He presently served as Chairman of the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission.

An active and highly respected member of the legal community, Mr. Silva was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Tennessee Association for Justice, and the American Bar Association. He was past president of the Williamson County Bar Association, elected a Fellow in the Tennessee Bar Foundation, and was a Master of the John Marshall Inns of Court. He was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Super Lawyers for his family law practice. For more than thirty years, he held the highest peer review rating, “AV,” from LexisNexis MartindaleHubbell, reflecting his legal ability and professional ethics. He was named “Lawyer of the Year” for family law in the greater Nashville area by Best Lawyers in 2010, 2017, and 2020.

Mr. Silva also served with distinction in civic leadership. He was past president of the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County and served on the Carnton Plantation Board of Directors. He chaired the Franklin Gateway Corridors and Connector Streets Economic Development Project Committee and was selected Franklin’s Citizen of the Year in 1986 by the Franklin Lions Club. He was also named Patron of the Year in 1998 by the Heritage Foundation. He was a founding director of Franklin National Bank and served on the board of its successor, The Fifth Third Bank of Tennessee (1989–2011). Ed Silva will be remembered and honored as a tireless warrior for the country, family, community, and profession he loved. His personal and professional brilliance will be etched into the hearts and minds of many people, as well as the past and future of Franklin, Tn.

Funeral services will be held October 17, 2026, at St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Visitation will be at 12:00 p.m., followed by a 1:00 p.m. service. Private internment will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Davis House, 140 SE Parkway Court, Franklin, TN 37064, or to the Ed and Suzanne Silva Scholarship at Nashville School of Law, 4013 Armory Oakes Dr., Nashville, TN 37204. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com.