Madison – Rev. David Alexander McIntosh, Sr., of Madison, Mississippi, fully entered the presence of his Savior on his 94th birthday. Born September 16, 1927, in McComb, Mississippi to William Franklin McIntosh, Sr. and Ruby Holmes McIntosh, he was the third born of four children and the last survivor of his generation. While his parents were of humble means, they laid a fine foundation for a remarkable life.
He met the love of his life, Rosemary Thigpen, in 1944, at a Methodist youth retreat. They married September 4, 1949 and have been inseparable - “two halves made whole” as she once wrote in a poem. There has never been a closer marriage or a better example of the marriage covenant revealing Christ and His Church.
Raised in the country, he later became a gifted athlete at McComb High School in multiple sports, leading his teams to state championships in football and track. Called to the ministry as a young man, he attended Millsaps College to prepare for that ministry, declining athletic scholarship offers in three sports from numerous Southeastern Conference schools. When he entered Millsaps in 1945, sports had been discontinued due to the war effort. When football was reinstituted before his junior year, he was persuaded to play by his beloved Coach Doby Bartling. He was by all accounts a phenomenal player, was twice named Little All American, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. He turned down that offer to begin his seminary studies at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He remains the only ordained minister inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1973).
He loved Millsaps College and served 16 years (1969-1985) as a member of its Board of Trustees. He was an inaugural member of its Athletics Hall of Fame (1969), both for football and for basketball, and was named Alumnus of the Year (1996). He took great delight in the honorary doctorate he was awarded by the College (2016).
While at Emory he served a pastorate at Smithville, Georgia. Upon his return to Mississippi he served United Methodist churches, in succession, at Scooba, Ridgeland, Morton, Alta Woods (Jackson), Central (Meridian), Christ (Jackson), Crawford Street (Vicksburg), and First UMC of Laurel. After retirement from being a senior pastor he became a hospital minister for Christ UMC (for another 20 years) where he was ultimately named Pastor Emeritus. He considered himself a bearer of good news, and that he surely was. He dearly loved each of his congregations. The family sends thanks to each church and parishioner for their contributions to his life and ministry. He loved you all to the end of his days.
He is survived by his faithful bride of 72 years, Rosemary; son, David Alexander McIntosh, Jr., and his wife Debra Ward McIntosh of Brandon, Mississippi, grandchildren Kate McIntosh Graham and husband Will Graham of Birmingham, Alabama, and Alex McIntosh and wife Chelsea McIntosh of Starkville, Mississippi; Daughter and faithful caregiver Maura McIntosh Fields of Madison, Mississippi, and grandson Zach Fields of Oxford, Mississippi; and son Mark Franklin McIntosh and wife Martha Stevens McIntosh of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, grandson John Mark McIntosh and wife Elizabeth McIntosh of Tupelo, Mississippi, granddaughter Mamie McIntosh Crawford and husband Allen Crawford of LaGrange, Georgia, and granddaughter Lizzie McIntosh of Atlanta, Georgia. He is survived by great grandchildren, Elodie Graham, Rose Graham, William Graham, George McIntosh, David Alexander “Tripp” McIntosh, III, Poppy McIntosh, Frances Crawford, Maggie McIntosh, and expected baby Crawford. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
“Brother David” will long be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and pastor. And he will be sorely missed. Even now, having stepped through the little postern gate, he is telling stories, reciting poems, and singing songs.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Jackson, Mississippi, Monday, September 20, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be live-streamed on the church website, christunitedjxn.org, Traditions Livestream. Prior to the service, private interment will be at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Christ United Methodist Church missions ministry or Millsaps College. Parkway Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
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