A native of Birmingham, AL., David was the son of Mrs. Helen Whitfield Chatman Goldwire and the late John Oliver Chatman, Sr. He was raised by a loving stepfather, Nathaniel Goldwire.

At the tender age of six, David was baptized by the late Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr., at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church.

A product of Muscogee County Schools, David was a 1979 graduate of George Washington Carver High School. At the age of 19, he started working at Piggly Wiggly as a bagger, rising through the ranks to currently becoming manager of Piggly Wiggly at the Stadium Drive location in Phenix City. He also was the owner of his own lawn service.

In 1990, he became a Modern Free and Accepted Mason, serving faithfully alongside his brothers for 25 years, achieving lifetime status. He was preceded in death by a brother, Johnny Battle.

Surviving other than his parents, Helen and Nathaniel Goldwire are his loving daughter and son, Tamara Chatman and David Emanuel Chatman, Jr; four grandchildren, Jamare, Shaunice, Isaiah David and Armoni Monae; three sisters, Debra Thomas, Linda Cook(James) and Anedria Jackson(Won); two brothers, John Oliver Chatman, Jr., and Arnold Swain; four nephews, Alexander Thomas, Jazzmond Thomas(Ashley), Derrick Cook and Kendall Hill; three aunts, Estella Whitfield, Janie Robinson(Robert) and Bobbi Jean Austin(Jimmy); his best friend, Darrell Saunders; and a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.