David Chapman

David Stokes Chapman, age 48, of Marietta, Georgia passed away December 15, 2018. Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Hiram with Rev.Wayne Meadows officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Ridge Memorial Park in Kennesaw.

A Gift On Loan From God

In 2001 our world was rocked and rocked hard by the death of Cyrus Chapman. Cy was my husband's Father, my co-worker and my dearest friend! I loved him so much. For 39 year Cy and Polly, his wife, had loved and cared for their very special youngest son, David. David was born July 8, 1970. He was born with Down's Syndrome and was a preemie. The doctors recommended that Cy and Polly put David immediately in an institution. This was common practice back in those states days, however barbaric it sounds to us today! Those doctors didn't know Polly and Cy! The refused in no uncertain terms and took their precious child home to love and raise. Waiting at home were 8 other children and one niece! Cheryl, Peggy, Susan, Cy, Mark, Scott, Michele and Leigh were to become David's dearest friends and support system! Peggy's children and Susan children came quickly into David's life and he grew up with them, learning all about sports, wrestling, singing, dancing, swimming and how to enjoy life! He was dearly, dearly loved by all! He began attending the Elaine Clark Center at age 18 months, attended church and Sunday School, and then graduated from Osborne High School in 1992. He was the cool kid on campus while at Osborne because he rode shotgun with Clint and Craig Brooks, his nephews, quite often. Some children with disabilities are bullied, but everyone knew that Clint and Craig would have a lot to say if David was ever bullied! David received a standing ovation at graduation. His entire family watched with tears in their eyes and cheers ringing from their voices! What a great day for David! For all the years since that day, we have to clap and cheer when we pass the Marietta Civic Center. David was 8 years old when my daughter was born and it was with my pregnancy that he finally figured out what it meant when girl's tummies started getting bigger. He came up to me one Sunday at Mama and Daddy's house, where we met most every Sunday for a family dinner. On that Sunday, he patted my stomach and said:"you getting fat!" I laughed and told him that I was having a baby and not getting fat! I can see the look of wonder that came over his face even now. He began to hug me and pat my tummy over and over again. He was the best uncle Miranda Carter could ever have had! Part play mate, part friend but wholeheartedly a mutual admiration! Later more and more nieces and nephews came and they all loved their uncle! Now he is great uncle to 11. In 2001 our beloved Big Daddy passed away leaving David and Polly, who was then suffering from Alzheimer's alone. My husband Cy and I and our two children moved in with them and later found a house where all of us could live comfortably. When his Mama passed David was once again asked by life to adjust to being without his parent, but he loved us and trusted us to care for him. We became a very close family unit and today this family is heartbroken by his loss. No more middle of the night attacks by the Huggy Bear, no more car dancing, no more sneak attack tickle sessions, no more angelic smiles and no more David hugs. David spent his life battling to overcome life's challenges. Besides being Down's David was almost completely deaf and was mostly non-verbal. He would talk to people that he really trusted but it was difficult to understand and hard for him to speak much. Between American Sign Language, amazing lip reading skills and the ability to read on an early elementary level, David was able to communicate most of his needs. He was much more deaf when things, like "clean your room!" and "take a shower!" were said and when he didn't want to hear what you were signing to him, he simply shut his eyes and kept them shut! He was a rascal, a love bug and a great helper with children. Always quick with a hug and a handshake, his favorite job was being a greeter at his church. His kidneys failed in 2016 and the doctor's did not believe he could adjust and successfully live on dialysis. We begged for the chance to try and the doctors were amazed at how well he did. He was so brave and accepting of what he had to endure. He left each treatment passing out hugs and love to every one there! David became a Christian in his high school years at Norton Park Baptist Church in Smyrna, Georgia. He had loved Jesus his entire life but made his decision publicly at that time. This church had a Special Ed Sunday school class and Ms. Gloria Carlisle told me that David understood everything about what it meant to be saved by the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. David was a most beloved member of Poplar Springs Baptist Church and loved his faith family with all of his heart. David Stokes left this world on Saturday, December 15, 2018. He left this world leaving a giant void in the lives of those that knew and loved him, but he was received into glory with an amazing welcome home celebration and was completely healed. Where once he could only feel the beat and hear a small portion of the music he loved he is now totally hearing the most beautiful music there is. Where he couldn't understand the things of this world, now he know and understands everything! I know that Jesus ( and Mama and Daddy) met him at the gates of Heaven and declared: "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" David

A lifelong resident of Cobb County, David graduated from Osborne High School in 1992, and attended the Excel Center for Adults with Disabilities in Smyrna for 16 years. He was a familiar face at his brother's business, Auto Benz, in Marietta. He loved watching movies, was an avid sports fan, and participated in the Special Olympics. He is survived by 8 siblings, Cheryl (Greg) Rice, Peggy (Fred) DiIorio, Susan (Al) Brooks, Cy (Cathy) Chapman, Mark (Lori) Chapman, Scott (Kim) Chapman, Michele (Jim) Bargy, and Leigh (Ed) Tinney, many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David Chapman's memory to the Georgia Down Syndrome Consortium @ www.ndsccenter.org/the-georgia-down-syndrome-consortium/ or to the National Kidney Foundation @ www.kidney.org . The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 18th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta. Online guest book at www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .