David Dewayne Davidson

View Funeral WebcastDavid Dewayne Davidson, 86, well-known Church of Christ minister and resident of Columbia, died Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 10:30 A.M. at Anderson Field House at Columbia Academy campus with John Vaughan and John Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Locust Grove Cemetery in Bradford, Tennessee at 3:30 P.M. The family will visit with friends Friday from 3:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th Street, Columbia, TN 38401, Freed-Hardeman University, 158 East Main Street, Henderson, TN 38340 or Civitan International Research Center, 1719 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.Born February 24, 1930 in rural West Tennessee, he was the son of the late Garlon Davidson and Ruth Bell Davidson. He attended Bradford Elementary School and graduated from Bradford High School, attended Freed-Hardeman College and received a Bachelor's degree from David Lipscomb College. He received his Master's degree in New Testament from Harding Graduate School of Bible and Religion in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Davidson preached locally at Friendship Church of Christ, Martin Church of Christ, West 7th Street Church of Christ, Catheys Creek Church of Christ. He also preached in Jonesboro, Arkansas and Opelika, Alabama. He served as singles minister and song director at Graymere Church of Christ from 1997 to 2001.A retired teacher, he taught at Hamlett-Robertson School in Crockett Mills, Tennessee; Tennessee School of Religion at University of Tennessee at Martin; Extension Classes in Bible for Harding University and Freed-Hardeman University and retired from Columbia Academy with more than 30 years of service. He received the National Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 given by the National Christian School Association. He helped establish the Church of Christ Student Centers at the University of Tennessee at Martin and Arkansas State University.Mr. Davidson was active in Civic activities most of his adult life. He was a charter member of the Martin Tennessee Jaycees, he served as Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop in Martin for four years. He was a charter member of Jonesboro, Arkansas Civitan Club in October 1963. He was an active member of Civitan and served as the Columbia Civitan Club as president three times, the Opelika Civitan Club once, and the Mt. Pleasant Civitan Club once. He was the club builder of the Mt. Pleasant Civitan Club. He had dual membership in the Columbia and Mt. Pleasant Civitan Clubs and had 42 years of perfect attendance. He sponsored the Columbia Academy Jr. Civitan Club for 30 years. He served in several Civitan District offices including governor of the Valley District. He was the Judge Advocate for the Valley District of Civitan and served as chairman of the Valley District Civitan Foundation Board of Trustees. He was an Honorary Fellow of International Civitan Research Center.He was a charter board member of Maury Christian Camp when it was chartered in 1965. He has served as secretary-treasurer of the camp board for over 30 years and has served as camp director several times. Survivors include his wife Madie Fae Key Crowell Davidson of Columbia, whom he married May 25, 1984; children, Deborah Carol (Mark) Sain of Florence, Alabama; Mary Rose (Gene) Threet of Dalton, Georgia; and Stephen Alan Davidson of Florence, Alabama; step-children, Joni (James) Collopy of Tucson, Arizona; Edward (Deana) Crowell of Florence, Alabama; and step-son-in-law, Richard Austin of Sugarland, Texas; brother, Harrell (Carrie) Davidson of Obion; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Carolyn Moore Davidson; step-daughters, Angela Fae Crowell Austin and Pamela E. Crowell; brother and sister-in-law, Bill & Helen Davidson. Active pallbearers will be Allen Foster, Ethan Foster, Sam Savage, K.C. Delk, Roscoe Voss, Tony Roder, David Kincade, and Scott Davis. Honorary pallbearers include Elders and Deacons of Catheys Creek Church of Christ, past and present faculty and staff of Columbia Academy, and Valley District Civitans. :