David Bartley Jacks, III, died peacefully, surrounded by family at his home in New Market, Alabama, on June 25, 2025.   He was born in New Market on September 20, 1933, to David Bartley Jacks, Jr., and Katherine Neely Jacks.  He was the grandson of David Bartley Jacks, Sr., Hulda Kennedy Jacks, Otis M. Neely, and Leona Frances Bragg Neely.  David grew up on the family farm settled over two hundred years ago by his third great-grandfather, an early settler of Madison County.  David graduated from New Market High School in 1951 and attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) for two years before enlisting in the United States Army.   He served in Co. C, 61st Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado, and at Camp Hale near the Tennessee Pass on the Continental Divide.  Particularly in later years, David frequently reminisced about his tour in the Army in the Rockies.

Following his discharge, David returned to Madison County and worked at P. R. Mallory as a Manufacturing Inventory Manager in Huntsville for 32 years.  He later worked at Triad MicroSystems and Teledyne Brown Engineering.  Following his retirement, David went to work for Cotton Growers Co-Op Gin in New Market, working in the office, logging loads of cotton, and keeping track of cotton bales, though his family suspected that he spent most of his time swapping stories with his neighbors.  In addition to his day jobs, David enjoyed working on his farm raising Polled Hereford cattle, cotton, and soybeans and carrying on an endless fight against groundhogs.

David spent the majority of his long life contributing to his community as a volunteer in many organizations.  He was Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 99 in Huntsville, where his son, Dave, earned the rank of Eagle Scout.  (He was proud that all three of his grandsons became Eagle Scouts.)  For many years, he served on the board and in various offices of Rice Cemetery in New Market and was very active in the New Market Volunteer Fire Department, in which he actively served for decades.    He was a member of the Hurricane Primitive Baptist Church, where he was a Deacon and the Church Clerk, an office held by his mother, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather who founded the congregation in 1846.  David never sought titles or accolades, but always worked hard for the betterment of his neighbors and community—a devotion to duty that was always an inspiration to his sons.

While working at Mallory, David fell in love with Barbara Lawhorn, his boss's secretary, and they were married on April 14, 1957.  Their 68-year marriage ended only with his passing.  In those nearly seven decades, they were devoted to each other through good times and bad, a model of steadfastness and forbearance.  His last words spoken on this earth were to tell her "I love you."

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents; brother, Harvey Neely Jacks; and son, William David "Dave" Jacks.  He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Lawhorn Jacks; son, Thomas E. Jacks (and wife Tara) of Mandeville, Louisiana; five grandchildren, Kelly Jacks Wallace (and husband Marty) of New Market, Collin Jacks of The Woodlands, Texas, David E. Jacks, Clay Jacks, and Kate Jacks all of Mandeville, Louisiana; two great-grandchildren, Emory Wallace and Wyatt William Wallace of New Market; brother-in-law, William E. Lawhorn of Huntsville; and eight first cousins and a host of friends.

A graveside service will be held at Rice Cemetery in New Market on Sunday, June 29, at 2:30 PM, with Chaplain Steven Butler officiating.   The service will be preceded by a visitation at Berryhill Funeral Home, 2305 Memorial Parkway NW Huntsville, Alabama, from noon to 2:00 pm.

The family expresses great gratitude to David's caregivers, Sherry Martin and Ashley Shankles, and the staff at Compassus Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the New Market Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 370, New Market, AL 35761.