David Whitlock Hemphill

David Whitlock Hemphill, 83, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 5, 2026. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and community leader, David lived a life marked by kindness, steadfastness, and a generous nature that touched everyone he met.

Born on January 18, 1943, in New York City, David was the son of Lois Whitlock Van Vliet and Clifford Hemphill Jr. He grew up in Caldwell, New Jersey, where he took pride in being a protective, loving, and loyal big brother to his younger siblings, Van and Mary Anne. From an early age, David was known for his ability to achieve anything he set his mind to, excelling academically, socially, and in athletics.

David attended Newark Academy, graduating in 1962, where he served as captain of the tennis team, was regularly named to the Dean’s List, and was a deeply cherished member of his class. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1966 from Hobart College in Geneva, New York. While at Hobart, he served as Senior Class President, joined Theta Delta Chi fraternity, participated in ROTC, and once again captained his school’s tennis team.

It was during his senior year of high school at a church retreat in the Poconos that David met the love of his life, Ann Stewart Matthews. For David, it was love at first sight. Their long-distance courtship was sustained through years of frequent correspondence and school-break visits, many of them spent on the dunes of Fernandina Beach, Florida. David was persistent in his wooing of Ann Stewart, even winning over her father, the Reverend T. Stewart Matthews, with whom he built a deep and lasting relationship.

On July 30, 1966, the couple was married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Macon, Georgia, beginning a beautiful 59-year marriage.

Shortly following their wedding, David entered active duty in the United States Air Force as an Aviation Lieutenant. He graduated at the top of his class from flight school and went on to serve as a Captain and flight instructor. For five years, David trained pilots for active combat in the Vietnam War, flying T-37 and T-38 aircraft. While he was stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, the couple welcomed their first son, David Matthew, in July 1969.

Following his military service, the young family moved to Ithaca, New York, where David pursued graduate studies, earning a Master of Public Administration from the Cornell Business School in 1973. The family later moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where their second son, James Tripp, was born in August 1976.

In 1977, David’s career brought the family to the Ortega Forest neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, when he joined the Seaboard Coastline Railroad (which transitioned into CSX Transportation in 1986). David enjoyed a highly distinguished 35-year career with the railroad, ultimately serving as Assistant Vice President of Economic Development. In this role, he was instrumental in attracting major companies to establish facilities along CSX tracks and in building deep, trusted relationships with state and local government leaders across the Southeast. Colleagues remember him as a steady, patient hand in all professional dealings, a supportive manager, and a steadfast mentor.

Outside of his career, David was deeply committed to his community and his faith. He was a longtime, active member of the Meninak Club and served on the Jacksonville Arts Council and the board of Theater Jacksonville. His spiritual life was centered around St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where he served multiple terms on the Vestry, including as Senior Warden. He also served as Treasurer for Christ Church Jacksonville Anglican and was central to securing a permanent location for the parish.

David’s personal passions brought him great joy throughout his life. He was a formidable and avid tennis player, competing on top-ranked teams at both The Florida Yacht Club and the Timuquana Country Club. Later in life, he switched to golf, a game at which he also excelled, sharing many special moments with his brother. A passionate gardener, he became a specialist in cultivating roses and plumerias, giving cuttings to friends to enjoy.

David also loved to travel, sharing memorable trips to places like Paris, Bermuda, and Alaska with Ann Stewart, his beloved siblings, and their spouses. At home, he was an avid reader of crime novels, with Dick Francis and John Grisham among his favorite authors. He loved music and singing, especially the songs of Andy Williams and Perry Como, and church hymns, which he sang with joy until the very end. David loved living on the St. John’s River, watching boats go by while reading the morning paper, filling his bird feeders, puttering around the yard, and hosting parties. He also loved and diligently cared for the family pets, including his grand-dogs.

Most of all, David was a faithful family man and a cherished grandfather. He supported his family unconditionally, cheering them on through every endeavor. David’s life was an exemplary model of kindness, dependability, and steady devotion. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

David was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Stewart, who passed away just five months prior, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. He is survived by his two sons, David Matthew Hemphill and his wife, Julie Blackson Hemphill, of Jacksonville, Florida, and James Tripp Hemphill and his wife, Elizabeth Beeley Hemphill, of Oxfordshire, England; his three beloved grandchildren, Stewart Whitlock Hemphill, Brenna Marie Dupries, and Reid Garrett Dupries; his sister, Mary Anne Hemphill of New Jersey, and his brother, Van Vliet Hemphill of North Carolina.

A funeral service celebrating David’s life will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, with a reception to follow at Timuquana Country Club.

Donations in David’s memory may be made to Angels for Allison at angelsforallison.org.

The family extends special appreciation and gratitude to the staff at Ortega Gardens Memory Care Center, who lovingly cared for Ann Stewart and David.

David and Ann Stewart will be laid to rest together in the Hemphill Family plot at Old Tennent Cemetery in Manalapan, New Jersey, in the near future.