David Campbell remembered as leading businessman, leader

ALBANY — The Good Life City lost one of it’s champions and business leaders this week when respected businessman William David Campbell lost his long battle with cancer Easter Sunday.

Just two days shy of his 70th birthday, Campbell, by all accounts, had lived a full life, during which he left an indelible mark on those who consider themselves friends.

As friends and family gathered in the wake of his passing to share remembrances of the Albany native, their stories were filled with descriptions of a kind and gracious man, who cherished the relationships he built with all of those he loved.

One such friend was business partner and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity brother John Temp Phillips, who said the bond he forged with Campbell during their time at Mercer University was one of the most important relationships of his life.

“We were really close,” said Phillips. “We were both from Albany, but I didn’t really know him until I went to Mercer my first year of college. He was a few years older than me. He knew who I was though and he looked out for me when I got there. Rush started and he became my big brother and that’s when we got really close.”

Phillips said the two remained close after they both returned to Albany, and over the years relied on each other both personally and professionally.

“He really was my confidante and I was his,” said Phillips. “He was the big brother I never had.”

Campbell, who was born the son of the late Virginia Watkins Campbell and William Robert Campbell, grew up in Albany, graduating from Albany High School and then his beloved Mercer University, where he met Lynda Medley, whom he married in 1967.

After college the couple returned to Albany, and once there Campbell, along with this brother-in-law Reed Jackson, joined his father-in-law Gaines Medley in his restaurant supply business, Medley Hotel and Restaurant Supply.

During his 43 years at Medley, now Trimark Strategic, Campbell helped build the company into one of the country’s foremost restaurant supply companies, thanks to the relationships he was able to forge with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Outback Steakhouse and Chick-fil-A.

“He was just a great leader and had a great energy that really helped us get traction and grow the business,” said Jackson. “Under his leadership we saw tremendous success.”

Campbell saw continued success in business after leaving Medley, embarking on a second career as a restaurateur when he joined his his son Stewart Campbell and Bo Henry in Stewbo’s Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Merry Acres Inn and Event Center, The Shackleford House and several successful restaurants.

But Campbell’s impact extended well outside of his many business ventures, as he was a tireless champion for the community. Over the years Campbell was involved in a number of different organizations, and corporate boards, including serving as chairman of the board at AB&T National Bank from 2010-2015.

“The role of chairman is one he embraced and fulfilled with passion and commitment,” said Community Capital Bancshares CEO Luke Flatt. “He encouraged us to put our best foot forward, to highlight the attributes of the bank and to paint a picture of what the future with the bank could look like.”

Campbell also painted a picture of a better community during his time as president of the board at Doublegate Country Club during the early 1990s.

At that time Doublegate had yet to admit an African American member and Campbell endured a considerable amount of criticism and negativity when he backed the membership application of former Albany Mayor Willie Adams, who ultimately became the club’s first African American member.

“David had to endure some very adverse conversations,” said Adams when recalling those times. “But he stood by me and took a very civil stance on that issue. He stood for what was right instead of what was fashionable. The community has lost a very dear citizen and a great human being.”

Campbell’s commitment to doing what was right and supporting others resonated with many who knew him, including his brother-in-law.

“David was a leader in this community for all the things that were the right things to do,” said Jackson. “He always followed what he knew was morally right. He was always honorable.”

His friend and former state representative Tommy Chambless agreed, saying that Campbell’s impressive character is what comes to mind as soon as he thinks of his friend.

“If you asked me to pick a noun, I would say character. Character would be the word I would think of,” said Chambless when describing Campbell. “More than anything I can think about related to David, it was his character, his integrity. If you asked me to pick an adjective, my adjective would be accommodating. If there was a way for David Campbell to do what you asked him to do, he did it.”

That generous spirit also had an impact on business partner Henry, who said he’ll cherish the all the lessons he learned while working with Campbell over the past few years.

“I learned so much from him in life and in business,” said Henry. “He really knew how to treat people. He was a man of compassion and caring and was always trying to do things for others. He was a very special person in my and my family’s life and it was truly meaningful these last few years that we got to spend so much time with him. He’ll be very missed.”

Although he’ll be missed his loved ones believe he is at peace and they believe that the legacy he left behind is one he should be proud of.

“He was such a good man,” said his son. “As a child I always wanted to grow up to be just like my dad.”

Campbell’s lifelong friend, Robert Margeson, who had been close to Campbell since elementary school, summed things up even more succinctly saying, “David was something else.”

Campbell is survived by his wife, Lynda Medley Campbell, son Stewart and his wife Fran; daughter Cynthia Adams and her husband James Dillard Adams Jr. of Cumming; grandchildren William Finn Campbell, Charles Gaines Campbell, James Dillard Adams III, William Campbell Adams, David Greyson Adams, brother Robert Edgar Campbell, and his wife Judy of Albany, and multiple nieces of nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Porterfield United Methodist Church where Campbell was a long-time member. There will be a visitation and reception following the service at the Shackleford House, followed by a private graveside service.