David Nesbit Edwards, Jr. ’61

David Nesbit Edwards, Jr. ’61 died Mar. 24 in the company of his family. He was born to Sadye and Nesbit Edwards on May 26, 1939. He attended R.J. Reynolds High and graduated from Davidson College with a degree in English. He participated in the ROTC program but deferred his commission until earning his J.D. from Duke University in 1964. He was stationed as captain in El Paso, Tex., for several years. Finding law practice uninspiring at first, he took a position as director of field experience at Elmira College in New York. He was a trumpet player and met his wife, Marcia, while playing in the Elmira Symphony. They married in December 1972 and lived in North Carolina where they raised their two daughters. He worked for the University of North Carolina General Administration for 28 years until he took early retirement from his position as senior associate vice president for legal affairs in November 2001. He loved music and was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church choir. He also served as deacon and elder at the church. He was a long-term member in the Gideons International organization and previously held the positions of president and chaplain of the Durham South Camp. After the commencement of his treatment for multiple myeloma, he felt compelled to share his faith, and so became an ordained lay pastor, committing his service to his small congregations. Some of his greatest joys were recounting stories of past times and reconnecting with old friends. He was pleased to have attended his 50th high school reunion in 2007. He was an avid Duke basketball fan and was rarely seen to raise his temper save for Duke games. He is survived by his wife, Marcia B. Edwards, 2 Breton Pl., Durham, NC 27707; daughters, Holly Edwards ’00 and Lisa Pascoe ’97 (Alan); and his sister, Martha Barringer (Paul).