Deacon David Churchman
David Gilmore Churchman, 84, of Charlottesville, Virginia, peacefully sauntered into the gates of Heaven to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, November 30th, 2025.
David was born on September 22nd, 1941, in Eastham, Virginia, to the late David Preston Churchman Jr. and Rose Anna Churchman. Throughout his adolescent years, David achieved profound academic success from a young age until he graduated as a prestigious member of the Class of 1960 from Jackson P. Burley High School. He was warmly known as “Cuz” to his classmates. He was a member of the Drama Club and enjoyed playing football. “Jay Pee Bee” was also where he met his forever love, his “Boobie,” Carolyn Marie Mason. After graduating from High School, David and Carolyn got married on January 7th, 1961, and started their Churchman legacy. David was an ambitious worker, and he brought his charismatic personality and hardworking mentality everywhere he went. He worked at the following locations: The Foothill Farm; The Centel Phone Company, where he started in the mailroom and was then promoted to become a lineman; and he also worked within the Carpet and Flooring industry.
David was a devout member of Chapman Grove Baptist Church, where he served many roles and was given numerous titles. He served as a Deacon, was a member of the Merciful Men’s Choir and Sanctuary Choir, taught Sunday School, and also participated in Bible Study. He also worked in the Lord’s Kitchen and provided communion for the sick and shut-in community. David made sure that all of his children and grandchildren knew the importance of having a good church family, but most importantly, developing and establishing their own relationship with God. He would always say, “I’ll see you at Church on Sunday, come as you are. The Lord knows your heart. Just show up!”
David had a plethora of hobbies! If you didn’t see him in the yard cutting grass, washing his car, or tending to his several gardens, then he was MacGyver’n something up around the house with his favorite go-to items: gray duct tape and crazy glue. He loved spending time in his mancave, widely known to his family as “The Room,” where he gave the best unfiltered advice, and enjoyed watching his favorite pastimes: Wrestling and Western movies, while drinking an ice-cold Pepsi. He loved telling jokes and stories about his life, especially when he went rock-climbing at the Grand Canyon and took an array of pictures with five cameras after he rappelled from the highest point. David absolutely loved two sports teams: The Virginia Cavaliers and the Washington Redskins, which are now known as The Commanders. But let David tell it, they were still the Redskins to him. There was a time when David and Carolyn hosted their first Churchman Family and Friends Event at their home on 1013 Carlton Ave, which was only supposed to be a one-day event, and it ended up turning into a three-day extravaganza! David also loved spending time with his family, whom he cherished and loved the most, and we loved and adored him just the same.
David was preceded in death by his parents: David Preston Churchman Jr. and Rose Anna Churchman; two brothers: James “Snicker” Churchman and Oscar “Diddley” Churchman; and one sister: Marietta “Teenie” Wars.
David is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, who he called pretty until his last day, Carolyn Marie Churchman; his beautiful children: David “Spunk” (Maria) Churchman Jr., Sonya Churchman, Barry Churchman, Cavonda “Fee” Epps, and Tonya (Marcus) Jones; his precious grandchildren: Lorenzo “Ab” (Sarah) Best, Tony “Che” Epps, David “Ke-Ke” Churchman, Mahassa “Hassa” Jones, Jamell “Mell” Churchman, Natalia “Bebe” (Hunter) Smith, Nicholas “Pete” Epps, and Marquan “Quan” Jones; his
delightful great-grandchildren: Cameron Epps, Luca Best, William Fischer Smith, and Baby Best #2; his loving sister, Julia (Ryland) Coles; his favorite nephews, because they were all his favorite: Charlie Grady, Gary Grady, Kent Churchman, Roy Churchman, Emmett Churchman, and Brian Wars; his nieces, to whom he referred to as his babies: Michelle “Chelle” Coles, Clarice “Reese” Coles, Deloris “Lala” Grady, Sharon Churchman, Janice Churchman, Tina Churchman, and Lisa “Nee” Churchman. He is also survived by a host of other beloved family members and church family who loved him dearly.
Sister Marietta C. Wars
Marietta Churchman Wars, 73, of Charlottesville VA earned her wings into eternal rest on Monday June 6, 2022 at UVA Hospital. She was born August 17, 1948 to the late David P. Churchman and Roseanna Churchman. She was preceded in death by a brother, Oscar Churchman. Marietta was a graduate of Jackson P. Burley class of 1966. She worked at The Towers as a Health information Analyst for many years before retiring. After retirement she worked part time at Reid’s Supermarket. Marietta was baptized at an early age and was a member of The Chapman Grove Baptist Church. She served as an Usher, a part of the hospitality committee, Women’s ministry, avid bible study and Sunday school student. She had a deep love for her family and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them, as well as her friends. She leaves to cherish a devoted son, Brian Wars; a brother, David (Carolyn) Churchman; a sister, Julia (Ryland) Coles; three grandchildren, Ja’haunz White, Ja’kaisha White, Ja’brea White all of Charlottesville VA; 17 nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends
Deaconess Catherine Payne
Catherine Elizabeth Payne, 93, of Charlottesville, Va., entered into eternal life on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. She was born on September 28, 1926, to the late Hastings Lewis Coles and Pauline Jane Coles in Albemarle County. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two daughters, Marjorie Ann Nowlin and Deborah Denise Nowlin. Catherine was the 9th of 15 children. She was baptized at the age of 14 and joined the family church, Chapman Grove Baptist Church. She graduated from Albemarle Training School in 1943 and furthered her education at the Combination Business School in New York City. She then held several positions as clerk and typist until she was hired as a medical secretary at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, one of New York's largest, from which she retired at age 65, after 22 years of service. She then returned to Charlottesville in 1991. Catherine was a dedicated, devoted member of The Chapman Grove Baptist Church. Serving as Deaconess, Missionary, Secretary of the Official Board, Secretary of the Deaconess Ministry, avid Bible Study Student, Sunday School Teacher, fervent Prayer Warrior and a faithful choir member. Catherine leaves to Cherish her memory a husband, William Robert Payne of New York; two sisters, Pauline (Brewer) Clark and Clariece C. (James) Harris and one brother, Ryland (Julia) Coles, all of Charlottesville, Va.; two grandchildren, Abena Adams of Bronx N.Y., and Atiya Adams of Waynesboro, Va.; one great-grandchild, Damon Adams of Charlottesville, Va.; a host of nieces and nephews; a devoted friend, Tammy Rambert, and the Chapman Grove family and friends. Her encouragement to all was, "Whatever you do, do it to the glory of God."
Sister Earlene Coles
On February 17, 2018, Earlene was call to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Earlene was born on May 23, 1955, to the late Pauline Jane and Hasting Lewis Coles in Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Robert J. Dickerson and David R. Coles. At age eleven, she joined the Chapman Grove Baptist Church, where she sang on the junior choir. As a young adult she taught Sunday school and later begin singing with her family the Coles Singers. In 1986, she join the Ebenezer Baptist Church as an associate member, where she sang on the Senior Choir. In 1997, she returned to her home Church, Chapman Grove, where she served as the Youth Choir Director, President of the senior choir, church clerk, one of the drivers for the van ministry and the Superintendent of the Sunday school. Earlene was educated in Washington, D.C. and the Albemarle County Public Schools System she was a Graduate of Albemarle High School and received some continued education from the Piedmont Virginia Community College. Earlene was a Federal Government Employee, for the Foreign Science & Technology Center which later became The National Grounds Intelligence Center, in Charlottesville, VA., where she retired in September 2015 after forty years of service. Earlene leaves to cherish her memories a daughter, Leola C. Morse "Poodie"; a son-in-law, William C. Morse Jr. "Billy", of Kent Store, Va.; two grandsons, William C. Morse III (Carrington) and Jeffrey M. Morse "Jeff"; a granddaughter, McKenzie A. Morse, "Kenzie" of Kent Store, Va.; three brothers, Hasting Coles III, New York City, NY., Nathaniel Coles, and Kenneth Coles, of Kent Store, Va.; four sisters, Paula Coles, Jacquelyn Yates, Madelyn Coles, all of Charlottesville, Va., and Constance Coles of Kent Store, Va.; two great-granddaughters, Audree and Paisley Morse, seven nieces, 11 nephews, a host of great nieces, nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, three aunts, an uncle, and other relatives and friends. Others she hold dear to her heart are Nicole, Latoya, Carmon, Trevon, her extended family the Morse's; and a very dear friend, David Diggs.
