Master Sgt. (Retired.) David Caldwell was born on February 11, 1953, to the late George and Carrie Mae Caldwell in

Birmingham, Alabama. He departed this life unexpectedly in the early morning on Tuesday, March 17,

2026, at the age of 73. He attended B. C. Hill Elementary School and A. H. Parker High School in

Birmingham. After graduation he joined the U. S. Air Force and served for twenty years retiring at the rank

of Master Sergeant. He later attended St. Leo College and earned a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality

Management.

Believing heavily in servitude, David served and headed the Usher Board at the Way of the Cross/ Living

Waters Apostolic Church of Christ for a combined thirty-nine years under the leadership of Bishop James

C. Jackson, he also sang in the Senior Choir (Stop Complaining & I Can’t Make It Not One Moment

Without the Lord) and Male Chorus (My Lord Done Just What He Said). For the past seven years, he

served as an usher and provided custodial duties at True Vine Apostolic Church of Christ under the

leadership of Bishop Terry W. Jackson.

David’s professional work consisted of working in Procurement at INRI Corporation, within hospitality and

catering functions with several hotels, within the school systems of Hampton, Newport News and

Norfolk as a Special Education and Spanish teacher and in various substitute teacher roles, the latest at

Phoebus High School, until his death.

Well after graduating from A.H. Parker High School, class of 1971, Dave always kept in touch with many of

his beloved classmates and friends. Hopping in the car to make the 10–12-hour trip (one-way) would be

nothing for him as this is what he did numerous times throughout the years. Heading back home to

B’Ham, he would visit family and attend his long-standing, high school reunions catching up on life,

telling stories, and meeting more new family members almost every time.

In his fatherhood role he would take his children to backpack drives to get bookbags and school supplies

as the school year was starting. He also attended Back to School Night for every child and attended all

school conferences. He provided watch-care for a student athlete of one of his high school classmates

while they attended Hampton University and took his sons to all of the home football games where they

would be introduced to HBCU marching band. When his children were in high school, he attended their

sports and band events at Phoebus High School as he served as an active band parent and eventually

became the talk of the school and the city due to his chants like, “Take it in Phoebus, take it in” reaching

to the other end of the football stadium. As his children became old enough to start working, he would

venture up and down I-64 traveling to Williamsburg and New Kent County where summers consisted of

working at the Colonial Downs racetrack as servers. During this time, he helped to provide employment

and transportation for close to 100 of their high-school and college friends in order to help them to stay

out of trouble.

David is survived by his wife of 49 ¾ years, Georgia A.H. Caldwell, who he met and married after 3

months in 1976 while they were both serving in the Air Force in Sault St. Marie Michigan. To this union

they added two daughters, Nicole and Davida, and two sons, Matthew and Nathan. Side by side, the two

of them defended this country, were present for their family and made a true impact in the church for

decades as their love for Christ would never “wax cold” (Matthew 24:12), but they would “let their light

shine before others, shining brighter and brighter” (Matthew 5:16; Proverbs 4:18). Milestone anniversary

plans were just about to be put in place for them as they were set to celebrate 50 years of marital bliss on

June 16th of this year.David was preceded in death by his parents George and Carrie Mae Caldwell and two older sisters Callie

Harper and Gloria Hardy. He leaves to cherish his memories: three brothers, George Caldwell, Jr., Dothan

AL, James Caldwell (Lucinda), and Timothy Caldwell (Debra); one sister, Willie Clayton Scott, all of

Birmingham, AL; three daughters, Ta-Tanisha Caldwell, Sacramento, CA, Nicole Caldwell-Brown, Virginia

Beach, VA, Davida Caldwell-Walker, Hampton, VA; two sons, Matthew Caldwell (Faith), Newport News,

VA, and Nathan Caldwell (Taneshia), Portsmouth, VA; six grandchildren, Taylin Bolden-Caldwell, Jaquai

Wiley, Sage Bolden-Caldwell, Andrew Walker, Deana Walker, Celea Brown; three great-grandchildren,

Amir Wiley, Amarion Bolden-Caldwell, Aziza Wiley; his mother-in-law, Eunice Hart and a host of nieces,

nephews, cousins and lifetime friends.

Whether you knew him as David, Dave or Squeaky, referred to him as Bro. Caldwell or Mr. Caldwell, one

cannot speak of the love of the Lord without mentioning David’s name as he so often prayed for,

encouraged, thought of, cared for, sang to, uplifted, shared with, helped and did for the sake of so many

others. Many can attest that there is no “folklore” when it comes to David as he was continually writing

his story everyday while he was still with us. He can now truly say as in 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a

good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” and now “I will both lay me down in peace,

and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

As a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and servant, he will truly be missed.

 

It is the desire of the Caldwell family that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

 

The family of Master Sgt. (Retired.) David Caldwell has entrusted his final care to C. C. Carter Funeral Home.