One of my Bucket List items before I left Alabama was to meet Dancin’ Dave.  If you recall, I DID meet Dancin’ Dave and wrote about our visit with him on the blog in this post – Dancin’ Dave – A Legend in the Wiregrass.  Chris and I absolutely loved meeting this man.

If I could sum up Dancin’ Dave in a word I think that word would have to be inspirational.  Dave is a simple man who has lived a full life in his 88 years.  He calls himself “a country boy” and truly does not ask or have need for much.  He grew up in a large family, lost his dad when he was 12 and spent much of his life working hard manual labor jobs.  He walked from town to town, doing odd jobs here and there to make money and then there was the dancing. Some of his jobs included picking blackberries, shelling peanuts, pulling corn and he told me he could pick 400 pounds of cotton a day.

The dancing made him a legend in the Wiregrass region of Alabama.  He had a signature dance with a shuffle and a wave and countless people remember their encounters with Dancin’ Dave.  When we went to lunch with him at the Blue Plate it was obvious how many folks knew him and loved him.  Dave was recognized by many in the dining room that day.  Wait staff posed for pictures with him and patrons stopped him on his way out to the car to chat with him.

Wait Staff with Dave at the Blue Plate in Dothan

This past week I found out through his friends Debbie and Lori that Dave is not doing very well.  He had another fall at home and the short story is that he is pretty sick.  He has had prostate cancer for several years and is too weak to tolerate the treatments for it and it has spread to his bones.  Hospice has been called in and they are giving him the care that he needs in the best way possible.  If you know me you know how much I love Hospice and their philosophy.  I know he is in good hands .

Debbie Yurevich, Dave Whatley and Lori Barefield head to the Dancin’ Dave Peanut in Headland, AL

To say that I am heartbroken that Dancin’ Dave is sick would be an understatement.  I just can not get him off of my mind.  Debbie and Lori have been so good to him and are doing all that they can to help his caregiver as well as Dave.  The Facebook page they have set up for Dancin’ Dave shows just how many people are attached to this southern gentleman.

I know that Dave would love to receive any kind of cards of love and encouragement and for the price of a card and a stamp this man will know how many people are thinking about him and praying for him.  If you are so inclined would you drop Dave a note at the following address?

Dancin’ Dave

P.O. Box 9872

Dothan, AL  36305

I just found out that there is a GoFundMe campaign started to help with costs associated with Dave’s care — mainly related to his caregiver at this point and needs there with an automobile to help with travel assistance. The link is here if you would like to contribute.  Thank you!

I have looked high and low for videos showing Dave really dancing and have only found this one that someone posted on YouTube in 2010.  He definitely has the moves, don’t you think?