David Robert Brewton

David Robert Brewton loved life and lived it fully! He was born to Robert Godshall and Doris Seader Brewton on March 21, 1959 and died peacefully on July 10, 2025.

He grew up with his older siblings Steve and Beverly - and his golden retriever Luke. In high school, Dave excelled in academics, swimming, and choral singing. His alma mater, Upper Saint Clair High School, recognized his achievements by inducting him into its Halls of Fame in 2000.

Dave met his beloved wife Barbara in college at the University of Virginia. In their third year, Dave asked God to connect him with others who shared his passion for serving in the inner-city. That year, the late Rev. Elward Ellis visited their Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Chapter and shared a testimony about a small church in Pittsburgh where Black people and white people worshiped together and sought to love each other and their neighbors. After marrying in the UVA chapel on October 3, 1981, Dave and Barb joined Friendship Community Presbyterian Church and moved into Pittsburgh's West Oakland neighborhood.

There, they raised four children, faithfully served Friendship Church, and joined their neighbors in building Beloved Community. For over forty years, Dave volunteered as Friendship Church's worship leader. He committed himself to learning and leading music from every generational and cultural corner of the American Christian musical repertoire. On Sunday mornings, windows resonated with hymns from centuries past, walls swayed on the backbeats of traditional Black gospel choruses, and hearts opened to contemporary melodies sung by the Friendship Community of Praise. Every Christmas Eve, Dave conducted Hermann Wetzler's setting of the Magnificat, an arrangement whose simplicity and elegance evoked Mary's humble awestruck wonder at participating in God's mighty work of redeeming the world through Jesus Christ.

Dave's work reflected his calling to seek the welfare of the city he loved. He joined members of Friendship who read Isaiah 58, called themselves Breachmenders, and set out to restore the streets of West Oakland by repairing homes and providing affordable apartments. He and his colleagues at the East Liberty Family Healthcare Center provided the best holistic healthcare that anyone could get and worked to ensure that anyone could get it. In Hazelwood, his team developed and preserved affordable homes so longtime residents could stay in the neighborhood as development took place.

When he wasn't working, Dave followed his mantra of "If it isn't fun, don't do it." He logged tens of thousands of miles riding his bike through the City and along the Great Allegheny Passage. He gleefully walked his dogs off leash in Schenley Park in flagrant violation of municipal ordinances. In the summers, he spent every spare moment at Citiparks pools, enjoyed frequent trips to Kennywood and Sandcastle, and orchestrated family vacations to Ocean City, NJ and upstate New York. He loved curating annual special days with each of his four children and whisking his beloved Barb off to dinner dates, dancing lessons, and trips without the kids.

David Brewton is preceded in death by his father, Robert Brewton, his son-in-law, Kenneth Riling, and his sister-in-law, Jo Ellen Brewton. He is survived by his mother, Doris Brewton; wife of 43 years Barbara (Buckingham) Brewton; children, Peter (Jennifer Hayes), Joel, Anna (Ryan Jackson), Thomas, and godson Anthony Martin; grandchildren Ellie, James, Tinsley, Izzy, and Zeke; siblings Steve Brewton (Judy Brewton) and Beverly James (Dick James), and scores of nieces, nephews, cousins, and the extended Buckingham Family.

The family would like to thank Jay Lynch, M.D., Zachary Horne, M.D., Leonard Appleman, M.D., Tom Boyer, P.A., Charles Mupamombe, M.D., the Hillman Cancer Center Community and UPMC Hospice Care for their skilled and compassionate medical care, and the Beloved Community of family, friends, and neighbors who have surrounded them with love.

Visitation will occur on Friday July 25, 2025 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Friendship Community Presbyterian Church, 181 Robinson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 250 N. Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. A light luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dave's memory to:

Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy

PO Box 228

Homestead, PA 15120

www.gaptrail.org

or

The Corner

c/o Friendship Community Church

181 Robinson Street

Pittsburgh 15213

cornerpgh.org