David George Wasson, Sr.

David George Wasson, Sr., loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and disciple, passed peacefully into God’s glory on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, January 3, at the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, preceded by visitation at 10:00 am. David was born on December 25, 1945, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. He grew up in the extended Poppa Zach and Momma Bessie Wasson family with all the attendant adventures in town, on “Junk Hill,” and at Shady Grove. Following graduation from Kosciusko High School, David studied at Mississippi State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1968 and Master of Education in 1970, and earning a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi in 1980. He was a member of Delta Chi fraternity at MSU. While at State, he met and married Catherine (Cathy) Church Wasson of Memphis, Tennessee. His early professional career was spent serving in teaching and leadership positions in the Mississippi Public Schools. He left the field of public education to pursue a career in textbook publishing, retiring as District Manager with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2008. After his retirement, David served as an accreditation auditor with the Mississippi Department of Education and as an adjunct professor in the School of Education at Belhaven University. David enthusiastically supported his and Cathy’s two sons (Chip and Walt) in any and all academic and athletic pursuits while actively serving his church family. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church Jackson and served as a deacon at First Presbyterian in Greenville. David sang in the choirs at both churches and served as president of the Young Seekers Sunday School class in Jackson. His service extended to a variety of missions including youth fellowship and evangelism—no task was too big or too small to support. David was known for his generosity of spirit and hospitality, striking up conversations with friends and strangers alike. He truly valued time with his family and friends whether at home or traveling abroad. David was a friend to many, an avid Mississippi State Bulldog sports fan, and an especially devoted “Poppa” to his five grandchildren. David was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn Lord and David Edmund Wasson, and his brother, Zachariah Lord Wasson. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Church Wasson; his sons, David G. (Chip) Wasson, Jr. (Kellie) and Walter Eugene Harpole Wasson (Mary Kay); and five grandchildren Emily Katherine (Reed), Georgia Catherine, David George III, Olivia Caroline, and Anna Bridges. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the First Presbyterian Church Jackson, the Bettye Quinn Memorial Education Scholarship at Belhaven University, the Little Light House of Central Mississippi, or the Alzheimer’s Association