David Talbert

David (Mike to his childhood friends and family) was born in Florence, S.C. and raised in Hartsville, S.C. the son of John Wallace Talbert, Sr. and Elisabeth Sullivan Talbert. He graduated from Davidson College with a degree in English. Following U.S. Army service he earned a master’s degree in botany from the University of Maryland and a PhD in plant physiology from Clemson University.

David worked in water quality for the state of South Carolina and as a librarian for the Health Sciences Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. For many years he served as head of the Biology/Environmental Sciences Library at Duke University, first on the Durham campus and later at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C. He loved being on the water and could often be found there in a wooden sailboat or canoe he had designed and built himself.

From his mother he inherited a lifelong love of poetry and this remained a source of enjoyment even as his disease progressed. He had a kind, friendly spirit, a good sense of humor, and a tender heart toward creatures wild and domestic. He could be counted on to stop traffic in both directions to allow a turtle to safely cross a busy road.

David was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, John W. Talbert Jr. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Bryna Coonin of New Bern, N.C., his sister Elaine Talbert and husband Ken Gruber of Greensboro, N.C., and sister-in-law Katherine Talbert.

The family wishes to thank the following friends for their devotion and companionship to David during his illness: Teresa and the late Ed Risty, Prudence Wing and Joe Hayes, Roger Noyes, John Phaup, Philip Murray, and Nelson Bryant.

We extend a special thanks to the amazing staff of HomePlace of New Bern for their dedicated and loving care of David during the last two years of his life, keeping him safe and comfortable through two hurricane evacuations and a pandemic. We are also grateful to the dedicated team from Craven County Hospice for their compassionate care of him at the very end of his life.

Due to covid, no services are planned. Memorial donations may be made to the Coastal Land Trust through their website at: https://coastallandtrust.org/ or to the Colonial Capital Humane Society, P.O. Box 326, New Bern NC 28563. Colonial

Arrangements by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory