Andrew Davis (Dave) Snead, 1924-2004

  Dave Snead was born and raised in Lynchburg, Va., along with three brothers and one sister. He was drafted into the Army to serve his country during World War II. Dave served under General Patton. After serving in the Army for three years, he joined the Air Force and completed 21 years of service. Nearing his retirement from the Armed Services, he felt the call of the Lord and started his early ministries while still in the Air Force. He then entered the United Methodist ministry in 1967. He became an ordained United Methodist minister, and served the Moneta Charge of Bethlehem, Emmaus, and Diamond Hill Union churches for 10 years (Lynchburg District). He also served Highland United Methodist Church for 13 years and then entering retirement he was an interim minister to Pleasant Grove, Chatham Heights, Granbery, Pleasant Hill and Bethlehem (Sydnorsville) (Danville District). The Rev. Snead was probably most widely known by his radio ministry, "Proclaim The Word," which he served for 20 years.

  One of Dave’s favorite poems that he kept above his dresser in a picture with an Air Force jet as the background was:

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence.

Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the

Windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

  As a testament to Dave’s ministry in recent times, even when he could not move around nor speak very well, he was still a witness to Christ by making sure that everyone that visited him had a little aluminum cross to carry to remind them of Jesus’ Gift of Salvation. His service to his country, his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his congregations have surely earned him a place at the Heavenly Table of God and he will be sorely missed. To end with two of Dave’s phrases would be fitting for everyone to remember: "Praise the Lord" and "Let go and Let God."