Joseph Alexander “Joe” David, III
November 16, 1942 – December 17, 2016
Funeral services for Joseph Alexander “Joe” David, III, 74, of Cairo, GA, are at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at the First Baptist Church, Cairo, GA. Pastor Ron McCaskill and Pastor Mike Koger will officiate. Interment will be in Resthaven Cemetery, Washington, GA. Mr. David passed away at his home in Cairo, GA, on Saturday night, December 17, 2016.
Active pallbearers will be Wes White, Stan Reiger, R. B. Gainous, D. C. Tunnison, Charles Renaud, Zane Owens, Michael Best, Kermit Gilliard, Alison Hayes and Brian Upshaw. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Willis, Ed Barr, David Moorer, Wally Shaw and Doc Elliott.
Mr. David was born on November 16, 1942, in Washington, GA, to the late Joseph Alexander David, Jr. and Ruby Chapman David. On September 7, 1963, he married Lisa Thombs David, who survives. Mr. David’s influence encompassed high school and university band programs throughout the Southeast. He taught at Cairo High School for 20 years and considered those years the highlight of his career. He was known for superior ratings at band festivals and his outstanding concert and marching bands. After his retirement from CHS, he continued teaching at Georgia Southern University and Columbus State University, teaching others to be exceptional music educators. In 2007, he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Georgia Bandmasters Hall of Fame and was presented the Georgia Music Educators Association Distinguished Career Award, the two most prestigious awards honoring Georgia’s music educators. As a loving father, his three sons have followed him in music education and will lead the next generation. We all will remember Papa Joe’s “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” as he quietly stepped upon the conducting podium and led us all from a moment of silence to musical wonderment with a swing of his conducting baton.
Survivors include: his wife of 53 years, Lisa Thombs David of Cairo, GA; sons, Joseph A. David, IV “Andy” (Allyson) of Dahlonega, GA, John Thombs David (Jennifer) of Rome, GA, James Michael David “Jim” (Cary) of Fort Collins, CO; grandson, Ethan Alexander David, Dahlonega, GA; sisters, Joanne David Koger of Columbus, GA, Cathy David Rieger (Stan) of Thomasville, GA; brother-in-law, Bill Thombs (Linda) of Douglas, GA; nieces: Beverly Koger of Columbus, GA, Lisa Koger Johnson (Billy) of Columbus, GA: nephew, Mike Koger (Margaret) of Columbus, GA; and great-nieces and great-nephews; Sam Bahde of Columbus, GA, David & Haley Koger Dingess of Macon, GA.
His parents and a brother-in-law, Jim Koger, preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made in Mr. David’s memory to: Cairo High School Joseph A. David, III Scholarship, c/o Community Foundation of South Georgia, Joe David Scholarship, P. O. Box 2654, Thomasville, GA 31779. This fund will be used for graduating seniors majoring in music education.
The family will receive friends at the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church immediately following the funeral service.
