David Hampton Blackwood

CARY - After a courageous year and a half battle with ALS, David Hampton Blackwood (74) peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday evening, surrounded by his family at his home. Born to Gary and Eva Blackwood of Durham, NC, he attended Northern High School, and after completing his education at North Carolina Wesleyan College, in June of 1968, David married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Brenda Lou Leathers. A year after they wed, David and Brenda answered the Lord’s call to serve as missionaries in Japan for a 2-year term. David’s genuine care for others and unselfish desire to serve led him into a successful, lifelong career in sales. God blessed David with a job he truly loved selling data services in the newspaper industry with the Chicago Tribune Company. David’s territories were on the east and west coast, which required weekly travel, allowing him to see so many places and make lifelong friends across the country. Whenever he was able, he would bring Brenda and his girls with him on trips, fostering his family’s passion for travel, adventure, and experiencing new places together. David was dedicated to his family, and despite his travel schedule, he would move mountains to make sure that he could fly home in time for important family events. His wife and daughters could rest assured that by game time, David was there to watch Sharon play basketball and see Heather cheer. When traveling, he would call every night to check in on his family and talk to “his girls”. His love was assured and his presence with them felt, even when he was far away. Due to God’s goodness and blessing, and because of David’s kind, genuine nature and adventurous spirit, David had a very full life. He was blessed with many friends that spanned his lifetime and was truly a friend to all. David had many interests and enjoyed sharing his hobbies with family and friends - biking, white water rafting, hiking in National Parks, playing golf, traveling overseas and within the US (he was able to visit all but two states before Covid and his illness made long-distance travel impossible). He loved being with his daughters and their families in Beaufort, NC, spending many hours on the back porch overlooking Taylor’s Creek reading books, watching the horses, talking, laughing, or rocking quietly, just content being together. And much to the chagrin of his Wolfpack and Tar Heel sons-in-law, David was a lifelong Duke fan. One of the greatest blessings for David for decades has been participating in men’s Bible study, both BSF and Men's Monday Night Bible Study at Providence Baptist Church (MMNBS). Through studying God’s Word and being a part of the MMNBS Administrative Team, David grew tremendously in his faith and enjoyed serving alongside men and women dedicated to growing in their service to the Lord. For the past 35 years, David worshiped at The Shepherd’s Church in Cary (formerly Colonial Baptist) and enjoyed the fellowship of dear friends as a member of the Lifespring Sunday School class. David went by many names: Dave, Dad, Uncle Dave (“UD”), and Mr. B. But the name he cherished most was “Papa”. He took every opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren. Whether playing golf, watching lacrosse, going to band concerts and plays, attending gymnastics performances, making Krispy Kreme runs, driving carpool, having sleepovers, biking, boat rides, playing games, doing puzzles, watching movies or sports, Papa was always so much fun and game for anything. He just wanted to be with his family and make memories together. Papa was also an example to each of them of what it looked like to walk humbly with his God. He never missed an opportunity to point them back to the cross and to how truly faithful the Lord had been to him during this life. He whole-heartedly adored his grandkids and they adored him. As his ALS symptoms progressed, and it became clear his time on this earth was coming to a close, David loved to reminisce over his life and recount funny, happy memories. He kept his sense of humor and his humble grace throughout his illness, and share how he saw God’s faithfulness to him and just how thankful he was for the unmerited gift of salvation. That is the legacy that his family and friends will most remember about David Blackwood. Through the unearned mercy, unfailing grace, and unending love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, David is a son of Almighty God. He is in the glorious presence of his Maker and he has already begun to live out the great adventure of eternal life in Heaven. David is survived by his beautiful wife of 53 years, Brenda; daughters Sharon Wiley (Jim) and Heather Faucette (Matt); 6 adoring grandchildren (James, David, Elizabeth Wiley and Cameron, Emma, Kate Faucette); his brother, Fred Blackwood (Patsy) and his sister Judy Womble (Otha). We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of those who poured out their wonderful care and support for David, making his last months filled with comfort, love, and joy. There are too many to thank by name, but we are indebted to Dr. Richard Bedlack and his entire team at the Duke ALS Clinic, the North Carolina Chapter of the ALS Association, and all of our sweet nurses from Duke Hospice. A memorial service celebrating David’s life will be held at The Shepherd’s Church on Tuesday, November 16, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: ALS Association NC Chapter, 4 North Blount Street, Suite #200, Raleigh NC 27601 or Shepherd’s Theological Seminary, 6051 Tryon Road, Cary NC 27518. Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com