David Lynn Freeman

David Lynn Freeman

Greenville

Pickens County native David Lynn Freeman died quietly at his home in the Acadia community in Greenville on January 24th, 2014. His life spanned 89 years of professional and community service and stewardship. The word retirement was not in his vocabulary; at the time of his death, he was actively and happily engaged in the practice of law at Freeman & Moore, PC with one of his favorite lawyers, Lesley R. Moore, and their office manager, Corajane Melton. Together they established this new firm in 2011. David Freeman was a partner in the Wyche Law Firm from 1964 to 2011. He began his legal career in 1949, upon graduation from Harvard Law School, joining the firm of Watkins, Vandiver, Freeman & Kirven in Anderson, SC.

David Freeman was elected president of the South Carolina Bar Association in 1971. He served on the American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Education, was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1965, and to the American Law Institute in 1975. For 25 years, David Freeman was selected for listing in The Best Lawyers in America for Corporate and First Amendment Law. He was known nationwide as a First Amendment law expert, and successfully tried many cases defending the freedom of the press. Capping his long and distinguished legal career, he would say one of his most memorable moments as a lawyer was his winning argument before the United States Supreme Court in a landmark business case representing his friend, Grant Peacock.

David Freeman's contributions to the legal profession were matched by many years of civic service. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, he served as a Navy officer in the Pacific Theater during WWII. While in Anderson, David Freeman was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. He also served as president of the Anderson Rotary Club and the County Community Chest.

When he transferred his energies to Greenville 50 years ago, David Freeman was elected president of the Downtown Greenville Rotary Club. He assisted many of Greenville's community and civic associations, including service as president of the Greenville Symphony Association, as chairman of the Professional Division of the United Way, as counsel to the Gateway House, and as a trusted advisor to the Greenville County Museum of Art.

Many will say that David Freeman's most outstanding contribution to the Upstate community began in the 1980s with the envisioning, fundraising and implementation of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. He would say that this was only possible thanks to the productive partnership he enjoyed with Betty Stall and Fred Walker.

David Freeman is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Keller Cushing Freeman, and by his children and their spouses: Caleb and Mary Freeman, David and Cynthia Freeman, Lynn Freeman and Robert Herzog, Kate and Martin Shorter. The finest apples in the family basket, he would have told you, are his grandchildren: John and Thomas Freeman, and Emily and Olivia Shorter.

David Freeman was proud of the Peace Center and its outreach program for children. Those who wish to honor him with a donation may send a contribution to the Peace Outreach Program at the Peace Center, 101 W. Broad Street, Greenville, SC 29601 or PeaceCenter.org.

There will be a service for David Freeman at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on Augusta St. at 2 pm this Wednesday, January 29, 2014, in the church sanctuary. His family looks forward to receiving visitors immediately following the service. A private graveside service at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens will be held later that afternoon.

A message of condolence may be expressed at MackeyMortuary.com.