J. David Stone

James David Stone (Dave), passed away peacefully at his home in Bradenton, Florida on the evening of August 25, 2025.

He was born on February 15, 1938 in Shreveport, LA, to Bess Marie Miller & James Herbert Stone of Springhill, LA.

Educated at LSU, LA Tech and Scarritt College for Christian Workers, Dave was a pioneer in youth ministry, serving in churches in Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana for over twenty years.

While serving as a youth counselor in Tampa, FL, Dave made the first of what became many missionary trips to the Bahamas, conducting Bible school for the children and worship services for their communities. Over the years, this ongoing endeavor added the restoration of churches by youth and adults from his congregation.

In 1968, he came to FUMC to establish what D.L. Dykes hoped would be the best youth program in the country. Most would agree he succeeded far beyond those expectations. 

While at FUMC, many innovative programs were initiated by Dave including: the Cheerful Givers, a singing group who traveled nationally and appeared on the televised Ted Mack Amateur Hour; numerous missionary Caravan and Mystery trips; as well as community outreach programs: the first of suicide intervention and assistance hotlines, the Parents’ League, and the Mayor’s Drug Abuse Council. During his tenure at FUMC, he traveled for 6 yrs to every major city in the US conducting Serendipity workshops with Lyman Coleman, reaching over 100,000 Christian educators and the clergy of both protestant and catholic churches, and locally-taught protestant religion at a Catholic girls high school, Saint Vincent Academy. Dave shared the concept and initiation of the School of Church Careers at Centenary College, also serving as its director and lecturer in Christian Education. 

Prolific and published, Dave penned many influential books and articles on group concepts, psychological and relational skills. One of his books led to the U.S. Army engaging his services and sending him to Germany and South Korea to train the Army’s Chaplains. He was instrumental in the development of D.L.’s visionary work in Christian television, heading up marketing and production of a new type of religious education. Dave always stressed “it’s the life you live, not the creed you profess”. He helped to introduce to religious programming, that faith involved reason and action, which offered an alternative view of the dominant programming of that time. With the help of Jack Easterwood, Dave established the Your Ministries Television Network, training youth workers all over the nation. During this time, the two of them covered a conference of a Peace Committee of retired military from the US and Russia. From this, the opportunity was realized by Dave that promoting a deeper understanding between the two countries was possible. Subsequently, numerous youth and church exchanges between the countries were conducted and culminated in the production of a live space bridge to celebrate Easter Sunday in joint worship service. Dave also brought American and Russian community leaders together to promote business between the two countries. The Russian Academy of Administration and Management awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his work. David's professional journey was marked by significant contributions to the media industry.

In later years, he worked as Regional VP for the Hallmark Television Channel, playing a pivotal role in expanding network distribution and services across 17 states, from the Dakotas to the Caribbean. While living in Chicago during this time, he sat on the board of the Illinois Broadband and Cable Association, he was the first to receive the Pinnacle Award, acknowledging his contributions to the industry. While at Hallmark, he was beloved by all of his clients, many of whom became friends. In every endeavor he forged close relationships. His interacting with Jim DeFranzo and the family of Dish Network was especially rewarding and offered enduring friendships. Dave was a real entertainer. Music played a big part in his life.

In college, he formed a band, The Falcons, in which he was lead singer, played the harmonica and served as business manager. Playing guitar and singing was a great ice-breaker in youth groups and workshops and always brought out the “HAM” in this gregarious man.

Dave had a unique way of reaching people where they were, making everyone feel like the most important person in the world, because to him, they were.

He was not just a man of accomplishments, but a man of heart. He will be remembered for his infectious positivity, his ability to see the best in every one, and his unwavering dedication to making the world a better place.

Dave received many accolades during his lifetime, but the essence of his life came in the words of a former youth group member, “the way Dave recognized me gave me a different life. He stopped my heart from breaking and lifted me up into a new light-filled world.”

Dave is survived by Sissy Stone, his loving wife of 65 years, their three daughters: Mitzi Stone Flowers (Scott Peterson), Karen Stone Brandt King (James King, Sr.), Carlana Lee Stone

Four grandchildren: Peter R. Flowers, Jr. (Brianna), Tyler David Brandt, Miller Elizabeth Flowers Elliott (Shane), Willem Gibson Flowers; two brothers: John Clinton Stone (Ann), and Larry Miller Stone (Marcine).

A Celebration of Life will be held on October 3, 2025 at 11 am at First United Methodist Church in Shreveport, LA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

--