David Leslie Senter, 76, of Starkville, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at Sanctuary Hospice on May 23 after a long illness. David was born on February 20, 1947, in Tupelo, Mississippi to Shirley Budd Senter and Jasper Wayne Senter. He grew up in Fulton, MS and graduated from Itawamba Agricultural High School. He then attended Louisiana State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he obtained both a B.S. and an M.S. in History.
While at Southern, David’s love of golf blossomed and would eventually spawn a career. After college in 1976, David met a young science teacher, Lucy Hamilton, while playing golf. She had just started working at Itawamba Junior (Community) College. He would later tell his kids, “God had a plan for me that day.” They married in 1979 and would have celebrated their 44th anniversary in August. He leaves behind four children, Erin, Holly, Matthew and Joshua, who were his world.
To his children, he was always a source of unconditional love and support; to his grandchildren, he was a devoted Poppy who could be found cheering on their soccer games, exploring in the yard and making the perfect milkshake treat. David’s children and grandchildren were the light of his life and he was happiest when spending time with them.
David lived life on his own terms, and early on, bucked tradition, and stayed home with his children while they were young, supporting Lucy as she pursued her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, before he pursued his own love of golf professionally. When health ailments began to hinder his golf game after almost 20 years in the business, David began work as a Postal Carrier, retiring from the Postal Service in 2010.
Many were blessed to have spent time with David. A lover of stories, history and the written word, David gave this love to each of his children, and each now pass on the stories he has left behind. He loved movies, biographies, novels, and -pre-internet- had been known to read the encyclopedia just for fun. That was just David. He was a friend to all who met him and a devoted Christian, who had a very personal relationship with God. Though God has claimed him back to Him, and we take strength in the knowledge that he has been released from his pain, he will be sorely missed.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Jasper Wayne Senter and Shirley Budd Senter, of Fulton, MS.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Lucy Hamilton Senter, of Starkville, and their four children: daughter Erin Young of West Chester, Ohio; and her three daughters, Ella, Emma and Anna Young; daughter, Holly Senter Estes (Carey) of Shaw, Mississippi, and their son Carey David; son, Matthew Senter (Diana) and their two children, Caden and Ceres; and son, Joshua Senter of Slidell, Louisiana. He also leaves behind a brother, Jasper (Jay) Senter and his wife, Frankie Anthony Senter, of Atlanta, Georgia, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be on Sunday, May 28 from 1-3PM at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville. A graveside service at Memorial Garden Park with the family will follow at 3:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society or Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
