Sandidge, Dave - Houston Faber David Dave Sandidge, 84, passed away August 16, 2016, at Floyd Dyer Nursing Home in Houston, MS. He was born October 4, 1931 in Osceola, Arkansas to James Solomon Sandidge and Bonnie Estell Baker Sandidge. He was a band director for forty-five years and began his illustrious career in Bruce, MS in 1957. He earned a Bachelor`s Degree at Memphis State University, his Master`s Degree at Ole Miss, and did further graduate work at Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi. He went on to lead award-winning band programs in Hazlehurst, Clarksdale, Gulfport, and North Richland Hills, TX. During most of those years, he also served as a choir director for Methodist Churches. After retiring to Houston in 1997, he served as interim director for Houston High School, interim choir director at First Baptist Church, and built the band program at Hebron Christian School. He was highly acclaimed by both colleagues and students; was named Outstanding Band Director in Mississippi by Phi Beta Mu in 1985; was awarded Excellence in Music Education by the National Band Association in 1985, and was inducted into the Gulf Coast Band Directors Hall of Fame in 2000. He greatly enjoyed serving as a director with the Mississippi All-State Lion`s Band for eleven years and participated in several wins as top band at international competitions. Dave was a Marching and Concert Band adjudicator in MS, AL, AR, and FL. The French Horn was his primary instrument and he played with the Memphis State Orchestra, the 8th Infantry Division Band while serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, the Memphis Symphony (Charter Member), and the Jackson Symphony. He also played with community bands in Starkville and Oxford, and enjoyed singing in the choir at FUMC, Houston. He served his colleagues as President of several regional and state-wide band director associations. Dave was also an avid gardener, a real craftsman in the wood-shop, and a fisherman. As any of his former students will attest, he believed in being the best at anything he did.
Memorial services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Houston on Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Rex Wilburn and Rev. Harold Robinson officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, August 20, 2016 from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church.
Houston Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.
Dave Sandidge was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters: Marylynn Dial and Carol Towe, and his brother Jimmie Sandidge.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Sanderson Sandidge, his daughters: Sherry Miller (Chuck) White, Linda (Bob) Ingram, and Dianne (Mark) Ross; his grandchildren: Tanner (Katy) Miller, Sarah Miller (James) Rees, Jonathan (Rachel) Sledge, Valerie Sledge (Ben) Waskey, Brian (Sydney) Ross, and Jennifer Ross (Daniel) Odom. His great-grandchildren: Christian (Levi) Waskey, Holden Sledge, Sherman Odom, and Baker Ross; his brother-in-law, Bobby (Dorajean) Sanderson; nieces and nephews; special cousins, and hundreds of former band students of whom he was very proud of.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 123
Houston, MS 38851
Friends and family may leave a message at houstonfuneralhomems.com.