Honoring the Life and Legacy of
David Leon Sheets
Obituary
David Sheets, 65, passed away due to COVID-19 on January 30, 2021 at his home in Denton, Texas. Born in 1955 to Jim and Aletha Sheets, David grew up in a family of musical ministers.
Those who knew him witnessed a life fully and fervently committed to Jesus: a true rarity.
David attended United Wesleyan College 1973-1975, transferred to Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana where he graduated in 1979 after paying his late library fees. In 1975, he married his high school sweetheart, Beatrice Thomas. Their joint ministry for the next 45 years would change thousands of lives.
David served on staff at eleven churches across the US Midwest & East Coast, leading each community into a new understanding of authentic worship to Jesus through the gift of music. He selflessly served underprivileged communities through mission trips around the world – including Mexico, Peru, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. He personally led dozens of people to salvation through Christ Jesus. His work as a family pastor improved and revived hundreds of marriages. He persuaded countless believers to obey God’s call to give their own lives to the ministry of the gospel.
David’s life of ministerial work drew applause. But anyone who knew him knows that he considered his countless achievements and accolades as nothing. Nada. “Zilch,” he would say. His only purpose (and joy) was to point others toward life change through the cross of Christ and its power to redeem.
To say humor & joy marked David’s life would be an extreme understatement. He saw every moment of every day as an opportunity to ambush, gag, prank, trick, or fool someone into belly laughing along with him. Everyone who knew David has multiple anecdotes about David bringing levity into any situation.
David is survived by his wife, Bea. His children, Brock and Bethany, their spouses, Esther and Joel (respectively), and his six grandchildren also survive David to honor the heritage he created. Surviving also are David’s parents, Jim and Aletha Sheets, and his siblings Paul (Sally) Sheets and Judy (Ken) Davis.
David’s departure did not douse the legacy he brought to life. His family invites you to join a virtual memorial service featuring a worship choir full of voices of the many diverse lives David touched.
The Virtual Celebration of Life for
David Leon Sheets
Recorded Feb 26, 2021
The Virtual Celebration of Life for
David Leon Sheets
Recorded Feb 26, 2021
Goodness of God - David Sheets Memorial Choir
This song embodies the way David Sheets lived his life. In every situation, no matter the difficulty, he would proclaim God’s goodness.
David Sheets lived a life devoted to Jesus. He spent the majority of his career as a music minister & choir director in churches around the US. The Sheets family put out a call for anyone who had served with David to join a virtual choir in his honor. What you see here is just a small picture of his legacy impact on the Kingdom of God. We pray this song blesses you and encourages you today.
Slide show
Photo Gallery
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to: Emanuel House
Emanuel House is a school & after-school program located in Quisqueya, Dominican Republic. Founder, Mirqueya Guzman started the school with her own money to target the neediest children in her community. Now the school weekly ministers to over 150 children. Many of these children are not allowed to attend public school due to missing birth certificates. With help from others, she is able to offer a hot meal, educational instruction, and love.
David loved and celebrated the heart that Mirqueya had for her neighbors. Partnering with the McLean Bible Church music ministry, David led several evangelistic teams and joined with Emanuel House sharing music, food resources, material goods, and the love of Christ to the community. David would be honored to know Emanuel House is thriving because of your generosity.
I shared this on Facebook the day after I learned that David had passed, I could go on and on about how wonderful of a person he is, but I will leave it with my words from a few weeks ago. I had the privilege of working with David at McLean Bible in the Worship Group and with our acapella group, BASIX. The picture is from a recording session we had the privilege of participating in and of course, we all could not keep a straight face the entire time. 🙂 PURE. JOY. when David was around! “in a season of loss for so many, this one hurts. David Sheets – what an incredible man of God, who loved both his family and church family so deeply. laughter was never far when he was around and he brought infectious joy to all who knew him. I was blessed to be in his orbit doing life and music ministry for so many years and have such wonderful memories to reflect on and hold dear. he was truly one of the best people i have ever known.”
David was one of the kindest, most talented, and FUNNIEST men I’ve had the privilege to know and work with. We shared so many hilarious moments over the years and and I’m so thankful for his influence in my life. Praying for the Sheets family and everyone grieving such a painful loss. Praise God that he is now experiencing what he invested so much of his life preparing others to one day experience.
Hearing the news on the day this great man entered Heavens Gates, devastated my heart, and all I wanted to do was be there as quick as I could for the Sheets family. My son Joel Johnson is married to Bethany. We were looking forward to heading south to Texas this Spring to see everyone. My wish now was that we would have decided earlier so we would have had time to spend with them. Prayers for the entire Sheets Family, their families, and all that knew and loved David. I was fortunate to attend a church service or two while they all lived out in the Washington D.C. area. Love to all. Laurie and Rick.
David Sheets was a great guy to play music with. He was very gifted…very professional but would also make it fun with his sense of humor. He was always super nice to me! Back in the old days at MBC Loudoun, when word got out that he would be coming to lead worship with his son Brock and other family members, you knew you were in store for a special weekend. I got to play with David multiple times at MBC and he actually invited me to play my first weekend at MBC Tysons with his band Basix and to this day i have close friends from that experience. I am so sad to see this happen to him and his family. It was way too soon.
My wife and I had the opportunity to join an evening class at McLean Bible Church that met weekly and we sat at the same table with David and Bea Sheets. We talked about many Christian topics and we shared life experiences with each other. We drew closer to David because we could see his love and compassion for others. We also were in the choir and could see David’s love for playing praise and worship music. I think his life on earth was preparation for singing and playing music in heaven to praise our Lord Jesus Christ. He will forever be happy doing what he loves.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bea and the family.
I will never forget the time “snowman” was on the MBC staff-wide photo scavenger hunt, but there was no snow to be found. David took a pickup truck to a skating rink and brought a bed full of ice back so we could build our snowman! He shared joy and laughter with so many. It was a privilege to do ministry with him.
While I and a few friends spent the weekend staying at the Sheets’ family home we had some questions about a study or topic that was being discussed and these questions were given to David. The next day David came to us with printed out sheets of scriptures, thoughts and answers to our questions. I was impressed with how thorough his research was. He had a desire to teach us and help us find our answers from God’s Word, all the while operating from a place of humility and vulnerability. I so appreciated his frank thoughtful input. David’s life was displayed as an open book ready to gladly share his Jesus with anyone who had ears to hear. He was kind, joyful and generous with his time. The world is a better place because David Sheets visited here for a few 65 years.
I had the privilege of getting to know and worship with David at Centreville Baptist Church. He and I had a long discussion one day in the planning of a new worship service. The joy he expressed at all the possibilities was contagious and all of us in our worship ministry & choir loved the time we got to spend with him. Once the quarantine/pandemic events unfolded, we shifted to meeting on Zoom and he always had a new video or inspiring site to share with us. He talked so often of a desire to put together a virtual choir to share online, that I just know how excited he would be for what will be shared during his celebration of life. Worshipping our God with him felt like being part of his family. God used him at the perfect time for our group and I will never forget the time I got to spend with this man. Cannot wait to worship in Heaven with him, I know he’ll be ready for us all to join in!
David Sheets is well-respected and admired in the Mclean Bible Church (MBC) ReEngage Community. When he was the Director of Marriage and Family Life at MBC, he piloted and trained ReEngage Couples who served and became the volunteer leader core team. There was never a dull moment with David during our intense training sessions. He served with passion and joy! Up to the present, ReEngage continues to make disciples of Christ through marriage. Attached is the Marriage Expectation Check Tool that he and Beatrice developed and pass on to the core leaders and participants. The entire MBC ReEngage Community is mourning the loss of a great and faithful servant of Christ. The examples that he set for us and his legacy will continue to live in our hearts. We are all standing with Beatrice, Brock, Bethany and the entire sheets in prayers in this very difficult time.
David Sheets was a hero for me. And I told him that. We worked very closely together over the years, as I got to know him when singing under his leadership many years ago in the large Worship Choir at MBC, then later when we started CrossRoads Voices outreach choir together, and also when he accompanied and assisted in the leadership of the Getty Christmas choir for the Kennedy Center concerts.
I remember telling David one night after a rehearsal, when everyone else had left, that not only was his musical talent and leadership a great inspiration and example for me, but most importantly, his love of the Lord and of His Word, and most notably, his humility. It was his humility that always was a model for me, demonstrating to me the way I wanted to live my life, and how I often struggled with that particular aspect of Christian character. David stood out for me as a man of exemplary Christian virtue and humility.
The church (and the world) lost a truly great man, and everything seems different now that he’s gone. I will miss him very much. God bless the Sheets family!
– Rex Parvin
Thank you Rex. Dad loved doing ministry with you.
Dear Bea, Brock, Bethany, Family, Friends, I just read through several of the comments and tributes. All I can say is WOW and echo many of the sam kind words. It was a JOY to serve with David in several ministries such as Choir, DR Mission Trips, Retreats, Outreaches, and the Re|Engage Marriage Ministry. He wanted all to know that “they are Blessed to be a Blessing”, for the Lord Jesus Christ and welcomed all to come along side and do just that. I treasury all that I learned from him throughout the years. Can’t wait to see him again! Love Debby
Reading through all of the comments I’m not sure what I can add that hasn’t already been said about David’s sense of humor, servant’s heart, love for Christ, love of family or desire to be completely sold out for Christ. What I can say is that I’m sure he heard “well done thy good and faithful servant” and is experiencing the eternal life we who are in Christ look forward to. It was a privilege to serve with David at MBC in both the choir and Preparing for Marriage ministries. Well done friend. Can’t wait to see you again one day.
I only had the pleasure of knowing David for a few weeks, but in that time he demonstrated himself to be man who adored his family and was committed to his Savior.
To You The Beloved Sheets Family: When my family first moved here in 2009 and attended MBC Pastor David was one of the first people I met when I joined the Mbc Church Choir. His influence on me back then until now as a Minister of Worship in music has left a profound effect upon me. His witty and open contagious sense of humor makes it easy for others to relate to him. We will always remember him for how he led the Church Choir especially for those of us who are not majors in music, and how he showed us what it means to be a community and church family through the choir. Sadly, upon our return in early 2020 to Mbc we learnt that the Church Choir has disbanded and Pastor Dave and Brother Rex Parvin his Associate along with sister Marcy have left and serving at different locations. As for his passing, I must say “Thank God” for such a Blessed Soul as Pastor Dave who has selflessly and sacrificially poured so much into our lives. May God in His Divine Grace and Mercy grant you all His Peace, Comfort and Strength through this time of his passing. His Christlike legacy forever remembered and cherished in our hearts until that Golden Day beyond the Jordan. Encouraging us all to remember that death may appear to be a loss but like Our Dear Beloved Brother has done by investing his God given Faith in Christ Jesus while yet living and seeing the world through the eyes of the Cross as one who is crucified with Christ in loving others around him. For that testimony we owe you all our debt to love you all and others as Pastor Dave has obediently done. We will keep you all in our hearts, our thoughts and in our prayers. From Brother Hillary Toa and Family from the tiny South Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu. With love and deepest sympathy our hearts, Your Family In Christ.
To the Sheets family: Pastor David baptized my oldest daughter Jordan at McLean Bible Church and was always serving whenever we’d see him. We will always cherish his service to our Lord and to our family.
Dear Bea, your kids, Paul and Sally, Dave’s parents and other family: We were shocked and so sorry to hear of Dave’s passing. Bea, Paul and Sally, when we think of you memories of you guys and Dave at United Wesleyan College come to mind. What special times we had there! The banquets, the choir singing, visits to Howard Johnson’s (Fudgeiana’s–all chocolate–were Dave’s favorite), hot dogs at the Der Wenderschnitzel, and so many other memories. Dave always had a smile, loved to laugh and had a gentle spirit but he also had a playful side to him. He loved to play pranks right along with his guy classmates. He wanted to make others laugh. We remember Kevin, Paul and Dave singing in a trio for UWC. Dave was Greg’s best man in our wedding. If we have one regret, it is not staying in touch over the years. The last time we saw Dave was at Calvary Wesleyan leading an ensemble for a Mission Holiness Conference. It was so good to see him. Paul and Sally were there and it was so good seeing them as well. We wish we could have seen you as well Bea. In this world, distance keeps us a part but one of these days at the glad reunion in heaven, we will never say good-bye. That’s the day we are looking forward to. You guys are in our thoughts and prayers. Love,
Greg and Kristy Burch
I knew David as an avid tennis player both full court and the table version. We had a men’s group that met every Wednesday morning at 630am, weather permitting, for 15-20 years. David was always smiling, filled with joy and competitive. For many years he was up at 4am to get the day old baked goods at Panera to bring to the homeless. He collected tennis balls to bring on mission trips. He never quit, even when he shattered his elbow in a fall he was back on the court playing in a couple of months. We coined the phrase tennis therapy. David even used tennis in his marriage ministry one time as a lesson in teamwork. Bea stopped by one morning to celebrate his birthday with watermelon for the group. I celebrate the Spirit filled life of David Sheets and I know our tennis group will always miss our friend and teammate.
David Sheets was a sweet, sweet man. I had the pleasure of working with him for six years while on staff at McLean Bible Church. Most people know him through his wonderful music ministry but I got to know him through his love of marriage ministry. He worked endlessly to counsel couples from engagement on up through many years of marriage. His love for people and that sacred bond of marriage in Christ was palpable. His joy for life and his broad smile were contagious. I’m grieved to know that kind of passion and joy has left a hole in this much broken world but rejoice in knowing this man of God is singing praises with our Lord and Savior today. Many prayers to the Sheets family for such a sudden loss. He will be truly missed by many. Well done, good and faithful servant.
Oh my so sorry to read this. I was talking about your dad a week or so ago and telling our pastors about the music extravaganzas he created in the 80s. Wheaton Wesleyan Church pews were filled every night of the program. He was so creative and talented. Praying for the family.
When we met David and Bea in Allentown/Bethlehem over 40 years ago, I remember making a conscious decision to allow myself to build a friendship with this new worship and youth pastor’s wife that I was drawn to. Many other friends whose husbands were going into or were in ministry had moved on and I wanted to protect my heart but I am SO glad I quickly got over that for we formed a friendship – Bea & and I and also as couples – that has been a treasure for all these years. We were together for five years and then WE were the ones who moved. It may have only been five years of our lives but God used that time together in a very special way and we made so many fun memories along the way.
Photo #1 (below) – David with Brock and our daughter Heather in Bethlehem, PA
Even though it has been many years since we played Dutch Blitz around a ping pong table at a choir retreat in PA and since David separated Bea and me at choir practice for giggling, the bonds we shared during that time together in Allentown are precious. The constant pranks…water fights through the parsonage kitchen window, (the example of which got Brock in trouble later in Pre-school Sunday school), and admonitions from David to be Christ followers who lifted others higher instead of dragging others down by our attitudes and actions….and the laughter! Oh the laughter!
Photo #2 (below) – David leading choir retreat in PA in August of 1982. (Their room was next door and he woke us in the morning singing and tapping the wall with each note.)
We would rent at house on the beach in Ocean City, Maryland and it would be full of friends and family for the week. One year we invited new friends of the Sheets and Crissinger’s to come spend a few days with us. There wasn’t enough room for everybody but we figured it out. The master bedroom had a king sized bed comprised of two twins attached to a common headboard. So, Bea, David, Sam and I and our babies occupied that room. We somewhat separated the twins at the foot of the bed forming a V. David and Sam. In the center and Bea and I on the outside. Sam was awakened in the morning by David “picking” his nose.
Photo #3 (below) – Three friends enjoying the ocean view
Photo #4 (below) – Every year we built a sand sculpture on the last day. David completing the whale tail.
David and Bea came to visit us in Florida and the most important thing for David was that we visit the largest church in the area to see how they do their music program. He was always trying to learn and grow. So on Sunday, that’s just what we did! (We were contacted by that church for the next year because of that visit.) ?But he always had time for fun! (Photo #5 below) – I showed him a bag of plastic ants that I had for playing pranks and he said “oooh, oooh, let’s set up a picture of me pretending to be emaciated and sick with ants crawling on my face.” (Or, maybe that was me that said that.). Not sure, so long ago! Haha!
Earlier today as I was still reeling from the shock at learning of his passing, I had a thought…a song actually. “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”. And it helps, thinking of the memories of how David lived his life for Christ and what an impact he has made for the kingdom. Much love to all of the family.
Photo #5 from entry above
Photo #4 from entry above
Photo #3 from entry above
Photo #2 from entry above
Photo #1 from entry above
Cute babies. The one on the right looks really familiar.
I love all these shots. Him “in his element!”