Mr. David Burton Denson

David Burton Denson
David Burton Denson, 66, died at his home on June 9, 2018, after a lengthy illness.
A native of Jasper, he was born on Sept. 29, 1951, into a Navy and newspaper family and moved with his family from Jasper to Pensacola, Norfolk, and Birmingham. He was the third generation in his family to work for The Birmingham News (in dispatch primarily). He graduated from Ensley High School in 1969 and obtained bachelors and then master's degrees in social work from the University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He worked in the field in Tennessee and Alabama but spent most of his work years in Denver. His long-time supervisor, Dr. Donna Rosenberg, said she hired him to be the Social Worker on the Child Protection Team at University of Colorado Medical Center. "There were several excellent contenders for the position, but David had qualities that were not just the result of his education and considerable experience," she wrote. "He had beautiful manners. He was kind to everyone, no matter who they were, even those who had committed terrible crimes. He had an exceptional voice (no small thing when four of us were sharing a tiny office). Not once, in the eight years we worked together, in the context of seeing hundreds of abused children every year, was there ever a harsh word between us. It was a joy to work with him. He was an exceptional colleague: capable, cheerful, never-complaining, always willing to do whatever was needed, funny (with an infectious laugh), sturdy, and understanding. He always had my back."
Before he came to work at the University of Colorado, he had been a social worker with the Child Welfare Division of the Denver Department of Social Services. After his time at the Kempe Center, he served as state director of the Child Abuse Central Registry for Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, John.
Survivors include his brother, William Howard Denson III (Michele Boyette) of Jacksonville, FL; his aunt, Jane Stephenson Root of Jonesborough, TN; and many cousins.
In lieu of flowers, any donations could be made to a favorite charity or to The Kempe Foundation by going to the website at www.kempe.org or by mailing a donation to The Kempe Center, Gary Pavilion at Children's Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13123 E. 16th Ave., B390, Aurora, CO 80045.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Kilgore-Green in Jasper. A memorial service is being planned and will be announced later.

There will be a memorial service on July 16, 2018 at 11:00 am at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home.