A Service of Love and Celebration for The Life of Mr. David Lawrence Dennis, Jr., Tuesday, August 30, 1994, 2:00 P.M., St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1540 Pryor Road, Southwest, Atlanta, Georgia, The Reverend Dr. Preston W. Williams, II, Pastor, Officiating

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Stewardess Boards St. Paul A.M.E. Church

Mildred Miller Leontine Porter Edna Sheffield

Nelsie Williams
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Steward Boards St. Paul A.M.E. Church

Helen Strickland LaRonia White Peggy Williams

Charles Barlow Mark Boozer Michael Calloway

Jesse Patterson

Tony Harper James Jones Gregory Nash

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The Faculty of Therrell High School Music Teachers of The Atlanta Public Schools

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The family of Mr. David Dennis, Jr. acknowledges with grateful appreciation the many expressions of love during his illness and the period following his transition. May God continue to shower his blessings on each of you.

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FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MORTICIANS

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Atlanta, Georgia 30314

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404-522 -6924

404-522-2591

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Tuesday,August30, 1994 -2:00P .M .-
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1540 Pryor Road: Southwest Atlanta, Georgia
The Reverend Dr. Preston W. Williams, II, Pastor Officiating

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..Music is the child ofprayer, the companion of religion" - Chateaubriand
"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor, and we see how David and all the saints have wrought their Godly thoughts into verse, rhyme and song"
-Luther
Mr. David Dennis, Jr. was the youngest of six children born to Reverend and Mrs. David Dennis, Sr. on January 11, 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia.
He received his early education in the Atlanta public schools, graduating valedictorian from Bass High School in 1976. After graduation from Bass, he chose to attend Clark College in Atlanta, where he excelled in academics and music performance. A versatile student at Clark, Mr. Dennis was an accomplished vocalist and played several instruments including the clarinet, oboe, flute, piano and organ. Among his numerous awards at Clark were the coveted Waymond A. Carver Band Award, the Alfred J. Turk
Alumni Award for Outstanding Bandsman, and he graduated magna cum laude with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and clarinet performance in 1980. Due to his outstanding undergraduate record, Mr. Dennis was offered numerous
graduate fellowships, and he chose to attend The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he continued to distinguish himself as an outstanding student. He earned two Masters of Arts degrees from Ohio State in musictheory(1981) and vocal pedagogy (1982). In addition, as the most outstanding voice student in his graduating class from Ohio State, Mr. Dennis was selected to lead the alma mater before almost forty thousand people at the University's summer commencement in 1982. He was the first African-American to receive this honor.
After graduation from Ohio State, Mr. Dennis was selected for operatic studies at Sassano del grappa, Italy in 1985 and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria in 1987. He also studied w ith such renowned master teachers as Sheri II Milnes of the Met and Pier Ferraro of Milan, ltlay.
Mr. Dennis made his professional operatic debut in 1987 in" The Tales ofHoffman"as
Dr. Mirakel in Graz, Austria. This performance was seen on German and Austrian
television. After the performance, an Austrian critic of the "Kleine Zeitnug" wrote, "Finally, a voice of a most pleasing quality." Other major operatic appearances included "Porgy and Bess" with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, "Hansel and Gretel" with the Phoen ix Opera, "The Barber of Seville" with The Ohio State University Opera, and the "Bayou Legend"with the Onyx Opera of Atlanta.
Having performed in the United States, Italy, Germany and Austria, Mr. Dennis won recognition in the Mobil Oil of Austria Voice Competition, the Palm Beach Competition, and the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition.
A very active professional in the area of music education, Mr. Dennis had taught in the Atranta public schools including appointments as band and vocal director at several schools including Cleveland Avenue School, East Lake, Guice, King Middle School, McG ill, Slaton and Toomer. His latest appointment was on the faculty at Therrell High School where he was the choral director. He had also taught voice at Clark Atlanta University. His professional affiliations included the Georgia Music Educators Association, the American Choral Directors Association, the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Mr. Dennis was a dedicated church musician, and was serving as the Minister of Music at St. Mark A.M.E. Church under the pastorate of The Reverend T. Nathaniel Hercules. He also had assisted with the choir at St. Paul A.M.E . Church, where he had been a member for over twenty years.
Mr. Dennis is survived by his parents, Reverend and Mrs. David Dennis, Sr.; sisters, Mr . and Mrs. Terrell L. Peterson (Katie). Mrs. Annie Ruth Hall, Mrs. Eva D. Cox, and Mrs. Angela D. Walker; brother, Mr. Gus L. Dennis; godbrother, Mr. Clarence Robinson; and a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and other relatives and friends.
"A chapter completed, a page turned, a life well-lived, a rest well-earned. "

The Reverend T. Nathaniel Hercules, Presiding Senior Pastor, St. Mark A.M.E. Church
THE PRELUDE .............................................. Mr. James Jones University Organist, Clark Atlanta University
THE PROCESSIONAL ................................................ No. 476 ..For All The Saints Who From Their Labors Rest"
THE HYMN No. 21 ..................................... "To God Be The Glory"
THE INVOCATION ............................The Reverend Dr. George Moore Senior Pastor, St. Philip A.M. E. Church
THE SCRIPTURE: The Old Testament, Psalm 150 The Reverend Dr. Gabriel S. Hardeman, Sr., Presiding Elder West Atlanta A.M.E. District The New Testament, I Corinthians 15:51-58 The Reverend Dr. E. Earl McCloud, Senior Pastor Hunter Hills A.M. E. Church The Epistle, I John 1-15 The Reverend Jesse Porter, Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church, Eatonton, Georgia
THE CHORAL SELECTION ...... The Combined Choir of St. Mark and St. Paul Mr. Clarence Robinson, Jr., Director
THE TRIBUTES: Dr. Florence Crim Robinson, Fuller E. Calloway Professor of Music Associate Dean of School of Arts and Sciences, CA U Ms. Mary Frances Early, Former Coordinator of Music Atlanta Public Schools Dr. Alphonso Jones, Principal, Therrell High School Choral Tribute, Therrell High School Combined Choir Ms. Sherri Jordan, Director Brother Carlos Reese, Steward, St. Paul Dr. Catherine Burley, President, New Joy and Praise Choir, St. Paul Choral Tribute, New Joy and Praise Choir Mr. Willie Fred Bryan, Accompanist
THE OBITUARY ........................................... Please read silently (Original compositions by David are played by his nephew, Horace Carr, Jr.)
THE RESOLUTION ... . ................ Brother W. T. Adams, Steward, St. Paul
THE CHORAL SELECTION: Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society Alumni Chorus Mr. Glynn Halsey, Director
THE EULOGY . ..... . ........................... Pastor Preston W . Williams, II
THE VOCAL SOLO .............................. . Ms. Zelda Kennedy, Soprano
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........ . ................... Mrs. Juanita D. Smith
THE RECESSIONAL .... The Combined Choir, Mr. Lanvester Jackson, Organist
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Lincoln Memorial Cemetery 2275 Simpson Road, Northwest
Atlanta, Georgia