Jeffery Isaiah David

Birth Date: 11/27/1997
Deceased Date: 02/22/2021

Jeffery Isaiah David passed suddenly on Monday, February 22, 2021, at the Madigan Army Medical Hospital on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

Jeffery was born November 27, 1997, in Clinton, Maryland, to Jeffery and Deborah David. He was the fourth son welcomed into the family. He was dedicated to the Lord on May 31, 1998. He then made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and was baptized at the age of three, on August 18, 2001, at Woodstream Church (formerly Landover Memorial Baptist Church) in Mitchellville, Maryland.

His drive to step up to and learn quickly anything he set his mind to was evident at an early age. After all, he did have three brothers to keep up with.

Jeffery began his education at JUNGO Christian Homeschool Academy, building a foundation of learning to love God, others, and his ABCs. At the age of two, he was accepted into the Kindergarten class because of his eagerness to learn and the ease with which he fit in with his classmates.

In 2005, the family moved to Smithfield, North Carolina, where Jeffery grew comfortably in the community, connecting and making friends with ease. He connected almost immediately with the Smithfield Parks and Recreation organization, playing baseball, Red Devils football, and most assuredly, basketball. His first basketball experience was at The Washington Bible College in Largo, Maryland, when he was about five years old. During time-outs and half-time breaks at his bothers’ games, young Jeffery would dribble the ball up and down the court and attempt a shot. He would often have to be forced off the court, believing he was part of the team when they returned. He played travel basketball with AAU teams, including Cleveland Pride, Selma-Thunder, and Matrix. Jeffery attended both Smithfield-Selma and Cleveland High Schools in Johnston County, graduating from Cleveland High School in 2015. He played basketball throughout middle/high school as a small forward/point guard. He was a student-athlete at Pitt Community College in Winterville, NC, where he also played basketball, as a shooting guard, for one year before transferring to Fayetteville State University, and lastly to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In 2019, he made a career change and joined the U.S. Army. His desire to provide for his son and build a future of success for and with him was the true motivation for this change.

Jeffery worked as a camp counselor for several summers at the Smithfield Aquatics and Recreational Center. He also worked at other local businesses, including Chick-Fil-A in Pembroke, NC.

He enjoyed reading a good book, listening to and creating music, and playing the drums and keyboard. Being self-taught, he enjoyed creating melodies with vocals and singing them especially loud after midnight and when taking loooong hot showers! He loved momma’s mac-n-cheese (and let’s just say all of her home cooking and baking).

Jeffery was a fun-loving, happy man who had a hearty laugh and a smile that certainly brought life to everyone when he was around. The regular check-in calls with dad just to chat, vent, or share something funny, will surely be missed. His brothers share this loss as a life mile marker as they grieve and accept the profound loss of their little brother. They were very close, often using social media as their means of connection and communication.

Jeffery leaves to cherish his memory parents, Jeffery and Deborah David; brothers, Sean, Jonathan, and Jeremiah; son, Samuel Omari Gilbert; mother of his son, Symbale Gilbert; grandmother of his son, Tawanna Ross, and their extended family; Aunt, Cecelia David; Uncle, Timothy David; Great Uncle David Singleton, (Cavel); a host of Godparents, including Charles Dory, Sondra White, Beverly Lucas, Hiram, and Patricia Jennings, Richard Bradford, and Marcus Powell; and several God-brothers and sisters.
In addition, Jeffery leaves his Church family at Woodstream Church in Mitchellville, Md, (under the leadership of Sr. Pastor Robert Wingfield); his Church family at Interstate Ministries in Clayton, North Carolina, (under the leadership of Bishop Terence Jenkins and First Lady Serreda Jenkins); friends at JUNGO Christian Homeschool Academy; the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) squad, where he received several MVP awards (Cleveland Pride, Matrix and Selma-Thunder teams); co-workers and campers from the Smithfield Aquatics and Recreation Center; coach, Derrick Mullins (Glynis), at Pitt Community College; Jasmine Spain from Pitt Community College; friends at Fayetteville State University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke; his Brotherhood from the 98th Infantry Brigade – Bravo Company 3-54 at Fort Benning, Georgia; his Brotherhood from the Comanche Company 123 at Joint Base Lewis/McChord in Tacoma, Washington; and a host of cousins, relatives, friends, and neighbors who crossed paths with him during his life.

“Our Boy”
“As a boy, you kept up with your brothers in any endeavor, no task too much, no not ever;
Piano, drums, baseball, football, or basketball, whatever,
You never backed down, lift up higher the lever,
That’s the kind of boy he was;
A game of charades, spades or pool,
He blended with all, never too cool,
That’s the kind of young man he was;

He joined the Army to provide for his son, tireless drills, mastered shooting, and learned how to handle a gun, that’s the kind of man he’d become;

“A momma’s boy” some might say, taught to love God, and respect others, who wouldn’t want to be loved this way;

Early morning and late-night chats with dad, through every challenge, “Let the boy grow”, he’d say, this will build good character in him one day;
They’d fuss and fight, that’s how boys play,
But they had each other’s back, lifting each stronger,
Encouraging one another that, “It’s gonna be okay”;
As the sun has set on this life we still bestow, rest in peace our son and brother.
You’re smiling now in heaven, this we know.” ©dsd

Please visit www.rlsandersfuneralhome.net to leave online condolences.
Visitation:
Friday, March 05
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Sanders Funeral Home Chapel
806 E Market St
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-8416

Funeral Service:
Saturday, March 06
10:00 AM
Temple Baptist Church
1250 S. Pollock St.
Selma, NC 27577

Interment with Full Military Honors:
Saturday, March 06
Selma Memorial Gardens
Selma, NC 27576