Obituary: David Samuel Friedman

David Samuel Friedman, named for his grandfather, was born May 12, 1935, in Memphis, Tenn. to the late Marion and Edith Friedman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Michael J. Friedman, and his nephew Michael S. Friedman. Survivors include his wife Shirley; brother Les Friedman (Diana); daughters Marla Davis (Mitchell) and Sheila Cranman (Kevin); daughter-in-law Emy Friedman; grandchildren Alyssa Strube (Gavin), Jennifer Sunkin (Jesse Braddell), Alex Friedman, Katherine Cranman and Caroline Cranman; great grandsons Joshua Strube and Adam Friedman; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Raised in Memphis, he graduated from Central High School; studied at Vanderbilt University and graduated from New York University; worked at Alexander’s in New York; and returned home to Memphis with his own store, David’s.

In 1966, he and his wife Shirley bought Falkoff’s Men’s Shop in Sikeston, Mo. He loved running his own business and treated every customer like he wanted to be treated with personal customer service. David and Shirley worked in the store and served the community with Falkoff’s Men’s Shop until they retired in 2012.

He taught himself how to sew and prioritized customer service, including full-service alterations. You didn’t walk out if it didn’t fit and make you look good. Clients came from great distances, seeking the variety of products and the can-do commitment to find what the customers wanted.

In Sikeston, he was active in community service. In 1996, the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce, for which he served various roles including president in 1976-77, named him Citizen of the Year. He was the recipient of the first annual Small Business of the Year Award. In 2011, the chamber recognized David and Shirley for their outstanding service to the Sikeston-Miner area. He was involved with the Jaycees; B’nai Israel Synagogue in Cape Girardeau, Mo.; and maintained membership at Baron Hirsch Congregation and Beth Sholom Synagogue in Memphis.

In 2015, David and Shirley relocated to Atlanta to be closer to their daughter Sheila and her family. David enjoyed attending events with his granddaughters at school and sporting events. He was a volunteer with the Jewish Family & Career Service’s One Good Deed until he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019, when One Good Deed provided a volunteer for him.

The family extends gratitude to excellent caregivers Dian Maxwell-Schillingford, Melvern Kidd, Juanique Carrington, and, as David called her, Sergeant Belinda Hill. Donations may be made in his memory to the National Brain Tumor Society, Weinstein Hospice of Jewish HomeLife, or a charity of your choice.

Graveside services were held July 8 at Beth Sholom Memorial Gardens in Memphis. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.