William "David" Pearson

William David Pearson, age 85, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on April 25, 2026. David was born June 24, 1940 in Plummerville, Arkansas, to Ardith Estell Koonce Pearson and Omer David Pearson. He married his high school sweetheart, Sherry Rose Batey, on October 18, 1958.

David is survived by his cherished wife, Sherry, and their two sons, James “Jamie” David Pearson (Milleigh) of Memphis and Jeffrey “Jeff” Todd Pearson (Mindy) of Springdale, AR. His legacy continues through his grandchildren: Will Pearson (Amanda) of Ames, IA; Ben Pearson (Stephanie) of Lenexa, KS; Hannah Poole (Zac) of Overland Park, KS; and David Pearson (Rachel) of Rogers, AR. He was also the proud great-grandfather of Liam, Halle, and Brady Pearson; Charlie, Finn, and Lucy Poole; and Ollie Pearson. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Betty McMullin, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The most important thing in David’s life was his relationship with Christ, followed by his devotion to Sherry, the love of his life for sixty-seven years, and the family they built together. David was the epitome of a dignified gentleman—gentle, thoughtful, and intelligent—yet he possessed a twinkling sense of humor that made him “fun” to everyone in his circle. He enthusiastically shared his love of the St. Louis Cardinals with his boys and grandchildren and enjoyed studying the Holy Land and Biblical archaeology.

Known as "Papa" to his grandchildren, David was their most steadfast supporter. Whether he was following a golf match, attending a swim meet, or cheering at school functions with Sherry, Papa was a constant and visible presence. He felt deeply blessed to watch his family grow, seeing his grandchildren marry and have children of their own—all of whom he prayed for daily.

David graduated from Arkansas State University with a BA in Accounting. His career path took him from Peat Marwick KPGM in Little Rock to his own practice in Osceola, and eventually to Memphis in 1980, where he served as Controller and later President of Mid-South Beverage, and President of Young Investments. He was everything a CPA should be—honest, reliable, brilliant, and genuinely concerned for the well-being of his clients, maintaining his practice until the age of 80. One client captured his essence perfectly, describing him as “truly a Christian gentleman.”

David’s legacy of service included over 60 years as a Deacon across five different churches. He lived his life knowing that God is faithful, and he shared that kindness and encouragement with everyone he met.

Visitation will be held at Bellevue Baptist Church, 2000 Appling Rd, Memphis, TN, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00 am in the Pollard Chapel. A Graveside Service will follow at 11:00 am at Memory Hill Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to Feed 479 www.feed479.com