David Earl Hale

September 20, 1954 – October 16, 2023

David Hale, 69, won his 13-year battle with Huntington’s disease early in the morning on October 16, 2023. He is now happily playing drums in the angel band and orchestra, singing in the angel choir, running half-marathons and 5Ks, walking steadily (no more falls), and speaking clearly.

The son of Wallace and Daphne Hale, David was born in Concord, North Carolina, on September 20, 1954. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Denise Thompson. David grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He married the former Nancy Wentz in 1975. David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pfeiffer University in North Carolina, a Master of Music degree, and an Educational Specialist degree from Middle Tennessee State University. After teaching band and chorus for six years in North Carolina, David and Nancy moved to Tennessee, where he taught band at Franklin High School from 1984 to 1996. He then became the first band director at the newly opened Centennial High School in Franklin. He was there until his retirement in 2011. David was a member of Brentwood United Methodist Church, where he sang in Chancel Choir for more than 30 years until Huntington’s disease robbed him of the ability to sing.

In addition to his wife Nancy, survivors include a sister, Charlotte (Mallory) Penland; brother-in-law, Robert Thompson; sister-in-law, Pat (Harold) Sinclair; nieces, Meredith (Jeremy) Fink and Jennifer (Kelly) Scercy; nephews, Andy Thompson and Greg (Lissa) Sinclair, and eleven great-nieces and great-nephews, all of North Carolina. David is also survived by aunts, Pauline Reynolds of North Carolina and Carolyn Critz of Virginia, and uncle, Danny Reynolds of North Carolina.

The family would like to thank the Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the many years of care they provided to David.

A Service of Life and Resurrection for David will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. at Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, Tennessee. It will be officiated by Rev. Dr. Domenic Nigrelli. Honorary pallbearers will be local band directors, former Franklin and Centennial band staff, and former band students. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service. Burial will follow at a later date at West Concord Cemetery in North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, Tennessee Chapter, P.O. Box 62, Brentwood, TN 37027, “Making Music Happen” Scholarship Fund, Centennial High School, 5050 Mallory Lane, Franklin, TN 37067, or the charity of the donor’s choice.