David Jackson Vickery, 83, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and renowned educator, died Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina on April 1, 1941, David graduated from Parker High School in 1959 and Furman University in 1963. He then earned his Masters Degree from Furman University in 1968 and Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in 1988.
David was an educator for the Greenville County Schools for over 33 years. He began his career in the classroom teaching for four years at both Woodside and Alexander Elementary Schools. David’s first principalship was two small elementary schools, Crestone and Julia Charles. Afterwards, he was asked to be an elementary instructional supervisor working out of the district office. His next principal assignment was to open the new Westcliffe Elementary School where he hired Lind Fant as a media specialist. Little did they know that in two years they would be married. David helped establish the middle school program in Greenville County and opened the first middle school in Greer. His next challenge was to open and be principal of Berea Middle School. He continued in educational administration in the Greenville County Schools as principal of Lakeview Middle School and as principal of J. L. Mann High School. He retired in 1994 as Area Assistant Superintendent for the Southwest Area Schools.
After David’s retirement from the Greenville County Schools, he became Executive Director of Christian Education for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination. He worked in this position for 12 years before retiring, but continued working part-time for his local church, the Greenville ARP Church, as Visiting Pastor for two years.
David was a member of the Greenville ARP Church where he served as a teacher, deacon and elder. He was also a member of the Board of Erskine College, the Board of Bonclarken Conference Center, and Trustee for the James Love Educational Fund, the Luycle Love Foundation and the James Love Bonclarken Foundation. He assisted in the selection and placement of memorials to Dr. L.P. Hollis, the Franklin Roosevelt Funeral Train, the memorial for Peg Leg Bates and Liberty Theater, and the Josh White Memorial in the City of Greenville, SC. David was elected and served for two years as a trustee of the Greenville Tech Charter High School serving as chairman one of those years. He was also a volunteer mediator with the Upstate Mediation Center.
Though untrained, he had a talent for arranging flowers and enjoyed creating arrangements which were unique. He especially enjoyed Japanese design concepts. David also lectured at local garden clubs. For most of his life, he collected antique furniture, something he and his wife enjoyed together.
David is survived by his wife, Josilind “Lind” Fant Vickery; his two children, Mason Fant Vickery of Greenville and David J. Vickery, Jr. and his wife, Joy of Greenville; a grandson, David Jackson “Jack” Vickery, III of Greenville; a granddaughter, Jillian Caroline Vickery of Greenville; a sister-in-law, Georgie Vickery of Simpsonville; brother-in-law, Carroll Burns of Greenville; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, William H. and Emma Hale Vickery; brother, William H Vickery; sisters, Willa V. McMahan and Susan V. Burns; and brother-in-law, James McMahan of Greenville, SC.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the Greenville ARP Church Fellowship Hall followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A private burial will be held at Old Silverbrook Cemetery in Anderson, SC.
The family requests no flowers. Instead, donations may be made to the Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 741 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601; the Bonclarken Conference Center, 500 Pine Drive, Flat Rock, NC 28731; or the charity of one’s choice.