David Soulis

David Paul Soulis, beloved husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on March 30, 2026, in Cartersville, Georgia — the town he called home from the very beginning. His body was ready, but our hearts were not. He is now at rest with the angels, and in the arms of his mother, who loved him so very much.

David came into this world on August 8, 1954, facing odds that would have discouraged a lesser spirit. Born with Spina Bifida, the doctors who attended his birth were not optimistic — they doubted he would survive, and later, that he would ever walk. David had other plans. He not only survived, he thrived, and in doing so, set the tone for a life defined not by limitation, but by determination, intellect, and an unshakeable will to live fully. His condition never defined him. If anything, it revealed him.

That spirit carried him far. David was an honor graduate of Cartersville High School and an honor graduate of Berry College, before earning his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He went on to build a distinguished legal career, serving as a law clerk, practicing with several law firms, and serving as Assistant District Attorney for the Cherokee Judicial Circuit Court. He later brought his sharp legal mind to the Bartow County Tax Assessors Office, where he served with dedication until his retirement.

David was a man of deep roots and rich passions. He was immensely proud of his Greek heritage and loved sharing stories of his grandfather, Gus Soulis, whose memory he carried with great affection. A devoted history buff — Civil War history in particular held a special place for him — David could hold court on almost any subject, and often did, with the kind of dry wit that would catch you off guard and leave you laughing long after the moment passed. He loved his family. He loved a good meal. And he had a well-known, firmly held, entirely reasonable stance against tomatoes.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Gus Soulis and Evelyn Bunch Soulis, and his brother Larry. He is survived by his loving wife, Lila Champion Soulis; his brother Keith (Linda); his sister Sheryl Cole; and his nieces Stephanie (Alberto) Reyes, and Kaitlin Cole and Kaitlin’s daughter, Charlotte.

The family extends profound gratitude to those who provided exceptional care to David. We offer our deepest thanks to his long-time physician, David E. Kim, MD. Our hearts are also with the compassionate staff at Manor Lake, whose devoted care provided immense comfort, especially in the deeply moving tribute when they lined the hallway to pay their respects as David departed. Finally, a special thank you to Mary Ellen Donnelly for her support in David's final months, and to the team at Transitions Hospice for the kindness and compassionate care that surrounded David and his loved ones in his final weeks.

David once said that a person is never truly forgotten as long as their name is spoken. He has left an indelible mark on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and that mark does not fade. So we will speak his name. We will tell his stories. We will laugh at his jokes and miss his voice at the table…and of course GO DAWGS!

Speak his name. Remember David.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. at Sunset Memory Gardens, 790 Indian Mound Road. Cartersville, Georgia. A Celebration of Life will follow immediately at Grand Oaks, 302 West Main Street, Cartersville.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in David's name to Etowah Valley Historical Society, PO Box 1886, Cartersville, Georgia 30120 or online at evhsonline.org