David Mitchell Avery

David Mitchell Avery, age 70, passed away peacefully at Community Hospice in Vidalia on the evening of October 20, 2021. David was born in Live Oak, Florida on March 2,1951.

Anyone that knew David, knew that he was immensely proud of the life he had lived and the things he was able to accomplish.  His education background was quite impressive and included receipt of a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Florida (he would remain an avid UF fan for the rest of his life), a master’s degree and a PhD in Education from the University of Houston. David spent a quarter of a century in the field of education, including assignments at the high school level, at the Houston Community College and at the University of Houston where he served as Assistant Dean in the History Department during his last five years in the education field.

Following his retirement as an educator in 1999, David moved near his brother, Jim, and sister-in-law, Mary Mitchell Avery, and became a resident of north Tattnall County, making his home near Cobbtown. When he moved to Tattnall County, David began a successful employment as a division manager for Friedman’s Jewelry which was a good source of income for him, but moreover, a good life experience. His true happiness and joy in life seemed to come after his retirement, however. This period of his life is when he became fully involved with the people of Tattnall County.   As a staff writer for the Journal Sentinel his weekly columns offered inspiration for his readers and more often provided a comedic insight into his life.  Additionally, he sought out interaction with other Tattnall Countians and a way to better the community in which he lived. That “way” would lead him to serve as the Executive Director of the Greater Tattnall Chamber of Commerce, a volunteer position he held for over fifteen years up to the time of his untimely death. Through his immense organizational skills, ability to motivate volunteers, and his powers of persuasion, he successfully expanded a sleepy underutilized Chamber into a powerful advocate for Tattnall businesses and expanded the role of the organization to also focus on civic service initiatives. His body of work in Tattnall County can never be sufficiently stated; the positive impact he has had on so many lives and genuine lasting friendships he made are the true legacy of a life well-lived.  David Avery is a name that will live on in the hearts, minds, and history of the people in and around Tattnall County!  To say that he will be missed is an understatement; in the end though, he would tell us all to “get over it!”  Despite his humility, he indeed was a titan of a man and will be deeply missed by everyone that knew him.

David is preceded in death by his parents, David J. Avery and Marguerite Rhoden Avery, and a brother, James “Jim” Gregory Avery.

He is survived by his sister, Bernadette Cannon of Vidalia; sister-in-law, Mary Mitchell Avery of Cobbtown; special friends, Nancy and Al Cheley of Cobbtown and Kim Tatum of Reidsville; nieces and nephews, James (Rachel) Cannon of Washington State, Daryl (JoAnn) Cannon of Texas, Chris Avery of Gainesville, FL, Joshua (Deana) Avery of Salem, Missouri, Ashley (Allen) Avery of Pittsburgh, Samantha (Steve) Houle of Brandon, FL, Mary (Max) Pfaffko of Washington, DC and James (Sarahy) Mitchell of Bogota’ Colombia.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 24, 2021, from the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 25, 2021, from the Chapel of Low Country Cremation and Burial with Rev. Murray Benefield officiating. Interment will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in MacClenny, FL.

Honorary pallbearers will be the past and present members of Greater Tattnall County Chamber of Commerce Junior Board.

Memorials may be given to the Greater Tattnall County Chamber of Commerce Junior Board for a Scholarship in David’s name, PO Box 759, Reidsville, GA 30453.

Low Country Cremation and Burial is serving the Avery Family.