David Adam McKelvey

1982 - 2023

David Adam McKelvey

September 16, 1982 - November 5, 2023

David A. McKelvey passed away in his sleep on Sunday, November 5, 2023. He was born on September 16, 1982, in Roanoke, Va., grew up in Bedford County, Va., and settled in Troutville, Va.

He leaves behind his wife of 15 years, Jacqueline Tweedy McKelvey; his two sons, Samuel Thomas McKelvey (13) and Benjamin Luke McKelvey (12); his father, Joseph Cranston McKelvey; his mother, Kathleen Springer McKelvey; his brothers, Jon McKelvey (Rebekah) and Chris McKelvey (Ashley); and countless other loved ones.

Services will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at Oakey's Funeral Service & Crematory, 5188 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019 with visitation to be held from 12 noon to 2 p.m., a Chapel Service at 2 p.m. and interment to follow in Glade Creek Cemetery.

In furtherance of Adam's legacy, please consider a charitable donation in lieu of flowers to organizations such as Global Partners for Peace and Development, Care Portal, Straight Street, and the American Heart Association.

For all that didn't know Adam well, he was a loving husband and devoted father who always protected and provided for his family. He was a committed Christian. He was raised Lutheran, faithfully attended Rainbow Forest Baptist Church and was a member of the Gideons. He read scripture every morning and read through the Bible several times in recent years. Adam was intelligent, driven, and ambitious. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Liberty University School of Law and a respected member of the Roanoke Bar. He first worked as a prosecutor in Halifax County, Virginia and soon became an attorney at Crandall and Katt, where he remained employed until his passing. He also found great joy in serving as legal counsel for the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).

Adam had a servant's heart sacrificially helping others without prompting and always looked for the good in people. He enjoyed using his spiritual gift of edification to encourage others and seemed to know what to say and do in times of doubt. He was one of the most loyal, forgiving, trustworthy and sincere people that I have ever known. He kept a mental short list of friends that he was "working on" and continually prayed for their salvation.

Greatly impacted by his Liberty High School football coach, Scott Abell, Adam loved coaching football and basketball. He viewed sports as a ministry, developing kids not only as players, but also as people. During practices and games, he often tried to teach them life lessons and character traits that would serve them well once they became adults. He never hid his faith and hoped to be a Christian influence in his players' lives. Adam often recalled that one of his biggest compliments came from a Roanoke City youth that told him on a car ride home from football practice that he had watched Adam interact with preachers, business leaders, strangers and folks in ankle bracelets and he treated every person with the same respect and consideration regardless of their status. Adam said that's how it should be because it's not our status in this world or what we accomplish on the field or on the court that makes each person valuable. A person's value is rooted in the fact that they are made in God's image, and we are precious in His sight. Adam worked tirelessly for the good of others and often said his biggest problem is that there just aren't enough hours in a day to accomplish all that he wanted.

Anyone who knew Adam was blessed to have him in their life. I know he's in Heaven at peace with the Lord and all of the loved ones that he so often lamented, but this world has lost a good man. There was truly only one Adam McKelvey, and he will be sorely missed.

Arrangements by Oakey's Funeral Service - East Chapel, Roanoke, VA (540) 977-3909.