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.
Thanks for sharing this, Brock. We loved your Dad and will miss him so very much. David walked the talk and was definitely the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. I was a member of the Celebration Choir at Christian Fellowship Church, which your dad directed while I was there. He was such a joy to all of us. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.?Thanks for making it possible for us to participate in this virtual service.❤
Such a flood of memories come to mind when thinking about David Sheets. Many of them were touched on in the service. Having the privilege of singing under his direction in the MBC choir and serving with him in two DR mission trips allowed me many opportunities to see David in many ways. As many have said, he was just the same all the time! The quote I use alot is “I am blessed to be a blessing”. I remember him having us repeat that on the bus from the airport to the mission where we were serving. All week, as we sang, ministered and developed relationships, that was in the forefront of my mind. May I and we continue to remember this and many other sayings and verses that David gifted to us in his time with us. Keep singing so we will be able to bring a please gift to God when we get to Heaven and sing again with David. (Lift those eyebrows and smile!)
May God bless and keep you David! Prayers for Bea and family.
David was a kind, caring, understanding Man of God. He always brought a positive attitude to our rehearsals and services. So very sorry to hear of his passing.
He opened the hymn service at Centerville Baptist Church one morning with “I tell my dad and brothers they’ll be out of a job in heaven, but song leaders will always have a place in heaven.” Praying for your family.
The Garriotts love the Sheets… and we mourn with you and celebrate with you! My days with Dave in teen choir, competing and on tours with buses, and pillow euchre, and overheated blue passenger vans are forever with me. So much to be thankful for.
Thank you for letting us all be “present” at this extraordinary virtual celebration. It seems fitting that it should be virtual… just too many people scattered across our globe who loved your dad/husband/brother/son! Praying for you all.
My earliest memory of your brother was when I was a teenager, going to camp at Tuscarora inn, he was the funnest at camp from what I can remember anyway, I guess I’m getting old too! All in all, so thankful for his faithfulness, his example, getting to hear him play in the sing at camp meeting!!!!! When we all get to heaven, what a day that will be!!!
Bethany, praying here for your Mom. So very sorry to hear about your Dad. We have such good memories of us all being neighbors back in Warrenville. God Bless.
This memorial was amazing and I appreciate everyone involved.
God thank you for David Sheets!
so shocked and so sorry to hear of David’s passing……..we so enjoyed playing euchre with him and Bea at Panera Bread in Falls Church VA on Sundays
I just learned of David’s passing this afternoon. I’m heartbroken my friend has left us, but thrilled he’s in the presence of Jesus.
I will forever be grateful David invited me to come on staff at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria, IL back in 2003. Had he not called me out of the blue, I never would have met my wife Gail and have the amazing family God has blessed me with.
One day we will see David again. May God’s peace and comfort rest on the entire Sheets family.
Heartfelt love and prayers from us in Southern California. My heart was broken, but worshiping along with you throughout the service. It was truly amazing ?
How I wish that I could reach across the miles and hug all of you.
We had so hoped to get to know David and Bea through Denton Bible Church Re/Engage Ministry and utterly shocked at the news of David’s passing. But how thankful we are to get to see a glimpse of who David was through this virtual celebration. We still look forward to getting to know Bea as we live in south Denton. Please know that we praise God for David and the life he lived for Jesus. We extend our condolences to all the family and friends of this man of God who gave of the talents and love David shared.
D-Sheets!!! Such an awesome guy and quite the character. I’ve spent the past few weeks, caught between tearing up and chucking at the same time. Sheets was always a joy to be around… He was truly, the Life and Love of Jesus, being lived out in real time.
I first met David when he was introduced as the new Director of our choir at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn, Virginia. When our Pastor introduced David, he told us that he and Bea had left the church they were serving in the midwest and moved to the east cost, without the guarantee of a job, to help take care of Bea’s mom. When I heard this, I thought to myself, “Wow, this is a man who is serious about his faith and puts his family first. I can follow a man like that.”
Over the years, I saw this pattern repeated often with David as the leader of our choir at McLean Bible Church, David did so many little things to bless people, like buying an old pickup, in part, so others who needed to move things could borrow it. Life with David was always interesting as well. Whether it was singing at the National Christmas Tree, with Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in NYC, the Kennedy Center, at the National Basillica or with some ensemble somewhere, David always had something creative in mind.
David was a good personal friend as well. We were in several Men’s Accountability Groups and he always had wise and challenging insights. David married Robin and me and, during the wedding ceremony he said, “What if God’s purpose is not so much for enjoyment as it is to make you more like Jesus?” Your wisdom, humor, friendship and love will be missed, David.
Praying for the Sheets family that God will enable you to grieve well and completely.
Michael Hoehn
David was such a great blessing to me. It was a great blessing and honor to know David and to serve alongside him. He taught me so much about music and he always made it all look so easy. An encourager, motivator, honorable and loyal. Gifted in music and he used it to honor God. He was a true brother in Christ, a leader whose focus was always to bring Glory to Almighty God and a very kind person. I will miss him so much. When I heard that he had gone home to be the Lord, the visual image that the Lord showed me was his glorious transition into heaven with the a big wide smile and the Lord giving him a hug saying “Welcome good and faithful servant!…enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21). We love you David, but God loves you more. May God comfort your family and surround them with their presence and power during this time. Till we meet again in heaven, farewell my dearly beloved brother David Sheets.
We only met David once when he and Bea visited CA to lead choir at Brock and Esther’s CA home church, but he made a lasting impression on Jake and me. His energy, expertise, and gracious attitude encouraged us. His and Bea’s big hearts also embraced our little baby boy, Reuben. At the time, Reagan and Samuel were babies themselves too. Most grandparents would only be able to focus on their own grandchildren but they loved on our baby boy too. As a young mother, I was truly touched to be included. Both David and Bea were that kind of people, to love many the way Jesus loves us. Much love to you all.
We knew David and Bea while we attended Calvary Wesleyan Church in 1981-84. I remember David had perfect pitch. So sorry to hear about his passing.
So grateful to share in this opportunity to remember and honor this wonderful man. I have known a lot of people in ministry, but this man is definitely one of the best – definitely top of the list! I remember back in the good old days when he worked with my dad Rick Hudgens, Kujo, and a few other amazing men and women at College Church. They were in my mind and memory like a ministry Dream Team! I watched him in ministry and he also ministered directly to me. I read somewhere else that he filled others with confidence- that is so true! (He even let my obnoxious teenage self have the solo that put me at the point of the heart choreography. ) You didn’t have to be perfect or have the voice of the angel to praise Jesus. You could just minister to someone with your smile and openness.
I only have happy and fun memories with David and the Sheets family. To know The Sheets family is to know fun, laughter and love. He will be so grateful missed but his life, ministry and impact is definitely evident to me and so many others!