DAVID CHAMBERS WALKER

For many years, DAVID CHAMBERS WALKER distributed countless "You Done Good" stickers for excellence to friends, coworkers and acquaintances. Last week, hundreds of people traveled to Somerville, Tenn., to say the same thing about David, who died suddenly Tuesday, July 28, 2009.

Funeral services for Mr. Walker were conducted at 2 P.M. Thursday, July 30th at the First United Methodist Church in Somerville with Rev. Larry Kendrick, Pastor of the church, officiating. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Wayne Daugherity, Charles Haddad, Robert Boyd Parker, Bill Rhea, Gary Rich and grandsons; Chris Cash, Mason Cash and David Marshburn.

Honorary casket bearers were Frank Boswell, Kenny Feathers, Payson Matthews, Alex Moore, Jim Pilcher, the Stone Soup Class, the Coffee Drinkers at the Pit Stop and the Somerville City Police.

Born in Brownsville, Tenn., on February 12, 1938, to Empson E. and Elizabeth Walker, David received his education in Haywood County and at Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn. After attending two years of college at Oklahoma State University, he graduated from Mississippi State University in 1960 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. He remained an avid MSU fan throughout his life, sharing his boundless enthusiasm for his alma mater with his friends and grandchildren.

After stints working at Fort Pillow State Penitentiary and the American Cyanamid Co., he was recruited to work at Tennessee Farm Bureau by his friend and bird hunting buddy, Cotton Ivy. At Farm Bureau, David found his niche, earning his CLU designation and serving as agency manager in Somerville and later as regional agency manager. During nearly 34 years in the company, he was responsible for hiring and mentoring scores of Farm Bureau agents; as a tribute to his influence, hundreds of them traveled to Somerville to pay their respects last week.

August 22, 1958, David married Martha Fields Campbell Walker of Ripley, Tenn. They had two children, Elizabeth Jane Walker and Mark Campbell Walker, in whom they instilled an affinity for hiking and traveling and a devotion to Christ and the church.

They brought their family to Somerville in 1969, where they threw themselves into the community. His local activities included Boy Scout troop leader and Rotary Club member. He was awarded the Four Avenues of Service Citation from the Somerville Rotary Club in 2008. David was recently appointed by State Rep. Barrett Rich to a post on the Fayette County Election Commission.

A longtime Christian, David served in numerous leadership capacities at Somerville First United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir for 35 years. Known throughout Tennessee for his incisive sense of humor, David loved telling jokes and funny stories with fellow coffee-drinkers at the Pit Stop in Somerville. For several years, he proudly served as a reserve officer for the Somerville Police Department and was honored and excited to serve in that capacity until his death.

After retiring from Farm Bureau, he and his wife spent much of their time on their boat, the "Razzdaddy Too," taking many exciting trips with other boaters and sharing their love of the Tennessee River with friends and family. Last year, David and Martha celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

David was especially close to his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Boswell Walker, and his son-in-law, Bill Cash. He took great pride and delight in his six grandchildren, Sarah and Caroline Walker, David and Erin Marshburn, and Mason and Chris Cash. They, in turn, idolized David, who they called Razzdaddy.

In addition to his wife and grandchildren, David leaves a sister, Ann Walker Jackson of Germantown, Tenn., and a brother, Empson E. Walker of Plano, Tex.

The family asks that memorials be sent to the CAC Fund of Somerville First United Methodist Church, 202 S. East Street, Somerville, TN 38068; Phone (901) 465-2627.