David P. Worden

David Penland Worden, 54, passed away unexpectedly on September 14, 2022, losing his long battle with depression. David was a dedicated husband of 25 years to the love of his life, Missy Worden and proud father to his sons, Penn and Shepard. He was a loving father, husband, brother, uncle, and son. David was born to Stuart and Betsy Worden in Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 30, 1968. David achieved many honors in his lifetime, but family and friends always meant the most to him.

David played high school and college tennis, was an Eagle Scout, and graduated from the Webb School in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1986. David earned a B.A in Political Science in 1990 from the from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and played on Sewanee’s tennis team.

After graduation, David worked for five years as a public-school teacher in New Orleans, Louisiana, teaching high school mathematics in Orleans Parish. While teaching, David also got his first of two Masters in Math at the University of New Orleans. David loved teaching and his students, and while there, grew to love the city of New Orleans, its music, and its people.

David met his wife, music therapist and teacher Missy, in New Orleans in 1993. Smitten, David boldly asked friends for her number. They were married two years later in a Baton Rouge ceremony, surrounded by friends and family.

David and Missy moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he built a strong network of friends and colleagues. In 2000, David got a Masters in Actuarial Science from Georgia State University. David worked at The Segal Company as a senior Actuarial Analyst, then Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLC as a Senior Associate. In 2007, he joined Sullivan Cotter, where he worked for more than 14 years in the benefits practice in Atlanta, most recently as a consulting manager. He greatly enjoyed his work(even if no one in his family could understand the math).

“Anyone who ever worked with David experienced his strong intellect, vast benefits knowledge and, most of all, his kindness, friendly smile, great sense of humor, humility and huge heart,” said Theodore Chien, President and CEO of Sullivan Cotter. “David cared so much about his colleagues and the firm. He was always willing to lend a hand, be a listening ear or offer a comforting shoulder.”

David was a talented tennis player and athlete, and a fierce competitor in ALTA (the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association) playing on many neighborhood ALTA tennis teams. David played tournaments and was once ranked number one in the state of Georgia for men over 40. David brought his competitive skills to all sports: badminton, table tennis, and golf. He played friendly poker (sometimes not so friendly!), read books voraciously, was a talented artist, and created detailed architectural pastels and prints.

David and Missy Worden lived in the close-knit Weatherstone community in Marietta, Georgia, where roads wind up leafy hills and down to the tennis court. Children grow up in one another’s yards, neighbors walk and greet daily, and the tennis court and pool are a lively hub of laughter. The family wishes to thank all who lifted up David in his lifetime, before, during and after Missy’s death from cancer in 2020, including friends, neighbors, and Missy’s “Ya-Yas.”

David Worden is predeceased by his mother Betsy Worden, his wife Missy Crane Worden and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Jim and Juna Crane. He is survived by sons Penn and Shepard, his father Stuart Worden (Lane Hays), and siblings Minky Worden (Gordon Crovitz) and John Worden (Meridith Worden), nephews Jack, James, Tom and Samuel, niece Amelia, and a host of extended family, colleagues, tennis partners, and lifelong friends.

“David was happiest with Missy, Penn and Shep, playing tennis, at concerts, or cooking up a way to prank friends and family—and we fell for it every time,” said Minky Worden, David’s sister. “He was most proud of the fine young men his sons have become and drew comfort knowing that Missy would have been proud as well.”

A memorial service will take place at 11 am on Friday, September 23, at St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, 571 Holt Road, NE, Marietta, Georgia 30068.

To honor David Worden’s life, memorials may be made to:

• The American Music Therapy Association

(Attn: Melissa Crane Worden Music Therapy Research Scholarship for School System Populations Fund; Address: 10125 Colesville Rd #136, Silver Spring, MD 20910)

• The Weatherstone Community Racquet Club

(Attn David Worden Tennis Court Repair Fund; Address: WSRC Membership, 2146 Roswell Road, Suite 108-211, Marietta, GA, 30062).

• Education Fund for Penn Worden and Shepard Worden(https://gofund.me/4e4f3a06)