David Martin Hessee

1923 - 2021

David Martin Hessee
October 4, 1923 - November 15, 2021
Durham, North Carolina - David Martin Hessee passed away peacefully at home Monday morning, November 15, 2021 with his family by his side.
In his 98 years, Dave may have made more people smile than anyone in town. He was a character, a charmer, an outrageous flirt, and a great storyteller. He seemed to know everyone and considered each a friend. Durham will be a little less fun without Dave.
The Hessee family has a long history in Durham, dating back well before the century he lived. Dave was born on North Street October 4, 1923. His parents, William and Ella Mae, worked at the Hessee Furniture Store owned by Dave's grandfather in the neighborhood of the old North Durham Five Points. His mother was a founding charter member of Grace Baptist Church in Durham. Dave's family worshipped at Grace Baptist Church for many years. He was a proud Durham High School graduate, Class of '42. Dave and Grace raised their three children (and all the neighborhood kids) in a home on Acadia Street overlooking Duke Park after moving from their first home on Sunset Avenue. In his later years, he enjoyed looking out over Croasdaile Golf Course, where he lived next door to his daughter, Joanne.
Dave proudly served his country in the Army Air Force in World War II. He then attended the University of Alabama before returning to Durham and marrying Grace Ellis.
Dave had a long and distinguished career in the Durham business community. His interest in construction and the service industry may have been sparked when he carried water buckets to the workers at Wright's Machinery as a youngster. In 1955, after working for Nicholson Inc., Comfort Engineers Inc. was established with longtime partners Claude Williams and Henry Pope, from which he retired in 1987. Most of the buildings in downtown Durham in the early years of air conditioning, were air conditioned by Dave and his partners. The company air conditioned many buildings at Duke University which included Duke Chapel, Page Auditorium, sections of Duke Hospital and other buildings on the Duke Campus. UNC and NC State University were also valuable customers throughout the years. The Research Triangle Park brought numerous opportunities for work, including the Governors Inn and surrounding buildings for the Teer family, IBM, Northern Telecom, Glaxo, Newton Instruments, and many others including homes in the Durham and surrounding area.
Years later, a partnership was formed with his wife Grace and Don and Lynn Yarboro. The business was known as Yarboro & Hessee. The partnership purchased old properties around Durham and Roxboro to refurbish, bringing them back to a useful purpose for the communities they were in. One of the most challenging and rewarding was the Wright's Machinery building on Holloway Street in Durham. Wright's Machinery had a special meaning to many in Durham in its prime years, employing many during World War II. The property and building had a special meaning for Don and Dave. Don's father worked there, and it was the construction site where Dave first worked as a water boy in his younger years. Yarboro & Hessee constructed a museum on site to share the history and importance that the facility provided not only to Durham, but the nation during World War II and then for the space industry building components for NASA.
Church and community service were always important to Dave. Over the years, he served as president of the YMCA, the Century Club, and Durham's Child and Parent Support Services. He was named to the City Council Citizens' Advisory Committee, the City Board of Adjustment, was a member of the Durham York Rite Masons and a Shriner. For Grace Baptist Church, he was a longtime deacon, choir member and chaired many committees. In recent years, he helped Grace Baptist make the decision to welcome the Durham Nativity School to their facility, eventually turning the campus over to the school.
In 1986, David was honored as one of Durham's Fathers of the Year. He generously shared his love of many things with his children and friends; tickets to Duke sporting events, chalet on Beech Mountain, and the cabin at Hyco Lake. He was a lifetime member of the Durham Sports Club. He enjoyed bird carving in his spare time, especially while at the lake.
Dave was greatly saddened by the death by his wife of 50 years, Grace Ellis Hessee, in 1997. Later, he married Joyce Wasdell and they enjoyed 10 years together before she passed away in 2016. He was also preceded in death by his brother Bill and sisters Dorothy Ann deMeira Penna and Ella Mae Richardson.
He is survived by his three children, David F. Hessee of Boquete, Panama (and former wife Rebecca), Layne M. Hessee and his wife Donna of Hillsborough, Joanne Hessee; three grandchildren, Shawn Hessee (Leonor and her daughter Kayla) of Raleigh, Ashleylayne Bell (Adam) two great-granddaughters, Olive Lucille Bell and Isla Grace Bell of Mebane, and Joanne's daughter Emily Herman of Neptune Beach, FL.
The Hessee family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Hall at Croasdaile Village for their loving and attentive care of our father for many years. We also wish to express our sincere appreciation for Dave's caregivers at his home, Carolyn Cameron, Allene Hunt, Linda Gossett, Erma Riley, Joanne Hessee and Donna Hessee for their loving care during his final years. Dave also said many times that he had "the best doctor in the world," Dr. Joseph Paat at Duke.
Dave Hessee's life was long, full, and well-lived. His family hopes to continue our father's tradition for generations to come.
Funeral services will be held at Grace Baptist Church, 1004 N. Mangum Street, on Saturday, November 20th at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Katie Crowe of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church and the Rev. David Bolick of Gospel Baptist Tabernacle Church of Hillsborough will officiate. A visitation, sharing and celebration of Dave's life will follow in the fellowship hall at Grace Baptist Church following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to any charity of your choice or the following causes that were important to Dave: Durham Sports Club Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 52734, Durham, N.C. 27717; Durham Nativity School, 1004 N. Mangum St. Durham, N.C. 27701;. or the Durham Rescue Mission P.O. Box 11858, Durham, N.C. 27703.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Durham. Online condolences may be sent to www.clementsfuneralservice.com.