David Sidney James Hamilton Obituary – Death in Asheville, NC: Remembering David Sidney James Hamilton, Beloved Healer, Musician, Educator, Farmer, and Steward of the Land, Whose Life Was a Testament to Service, Compassion, and Sacred Connection
Asheville, North Carolina – With profound sadness and heartfelt reverence, the Asheville community mourns the passing of David Sidney James Hamilton, affectionately known to many as Dave, who transitioned peacefully from this life surrounded by the immense love of family and friends. Dave was a pillar of kindness, wisdom, creativity, and ecological consciousness. He was not only a beloved member of the Western North Carolina region but also a revered teacher, healer, artist, farmer, and spiritual guide whose legacy will ripple through generations to come.
Born with an intuitive spirit and an open heart, Dave spent his life cultivating deep relationships—with people, with the land, and with the wisdom traditions that guided his walk in the world. To speak of Dave is to speak of someone who did not merely live, but someone who embodied a way of being rooted in presence, purpose, and love. In every endeavor—whether planting seeds, crafting herbal medicines, strumming his guitar, or holding space for others’ healing—Dave infused his work with quiet power and reverence.
A Life Rooted in Healing and Wholeness
One of Dave’s most defining roles was that of a healer. His gifts extended far beyond physical care—he was attuned to the emotional, spiritual, and energetic layers of wellness. Trained in healing massage and bodywork, Dave served as a beloved educator at The Body Therapy Institute, where his teachings transcended technique. He invited his students into a deeper inquiry about the body, presence, and connection to one another. Many who studied under Dave recall the transformative nature of his classes—not just learning how to touch with skill, but how to touch with intention and sacred awareness.
He saw healing as a sacred responsibility, often integrating herbal medicine, indigenous wisdom, and spiritual insight into his work. A dedicated medicine-maker, Dave learned to listen to plants the way others listen to music. He crafted remedies that were both potent and lovingly made, grounded in his intimate relationship with the natural world. His handmade salves, tinctures, and teas weren’t just remedies—they were gifts of care, created with reverence and knowledge that had been earned over decades.
Music as Communion: The Soul of a Storyteller
Music was the heartbeat of Dave’s life. A gifted musician, singer, and songwriter, he played multiple instruments—guitar, mandolin, fiddle—with a depth of emotion that few could match. Yet Dave never performed for applause. To him, music was sacred. Whether sitting around a fire with friends, offering songs in ceremony, or quietly composing at home, his music was a form of prayer, storytelling, and communal healing.
Listeners often spoke of being transported by his songs, many of which echoed themes of earth, ancestry, grief, and hope. Dave’s voice carried the timbre of truth—it moved gently through sorrow and joy alike, always pointing toward something larger, more mysterious, and ultimately unifying.
Music was also how he connected communities. He organized song circles, participated in folk gatherings, and generously shared his gifts at weddings, memorials, and community vigils. His fiddle has accompanied dances in barns and prayers in forests. Dave’s songs continue to live in the hearts of those who heard them, like seeds planted in rich soil.
Steward of the Earth and Visionary in Sustainable Agriculture
Dave’s hands were rarely idle, especially when it came to tending the earth. His impact on sustainable agriculture and food justice in North Carolina is enduring. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he was instrumental in launching a garden and food initiative that brought together students, local farmers, and activists. This was not just about growing food—it was about rebuilding relationship with the land and reclaiming food sovereignty in a time of deep ecological and cultural disconnection.
Later, as manager of the Anathoth Community Garden in Cedar Grove, Dave expanded his vision by nurturing not just the soil, but the people who worked it. Under his leadership, the garden became a place of healing, equity, and shared abundance. He understood food as medicine, farming as prayer, and soil as teacher. His influence was felt not just in how things grew, but in how people grew alongside one another.
Dave also brought his vision to Root Cause Farm, where he served on the board and advocated fiercely for food equity. His vision was clear: everyone deserves access to nourishing food, grown with care, and offered without shame or judgment. He pushed for systems change while also planting tomatoes with his own two hands. That balance—between visionary leadership and grounded action—was one of Dave’s many gifts.
Educator, Mentor, and Lifelong Learner
To many, Dave was a teacher in the truest sense—not because he held authority, but because he walked with curiosity, humility, and a genuine desire to learn and share. His teaching was expansive and intuitive. Whether offering workshops on herbalism, leading song circles, or mentoring new farmers and therapists, Dave always taught through example. He modeled patience, deep listening, and respect for all beings.
He believed that true education was reciprocal, often saying that “the land teaches best” or “everyone you meet is your teacher.” Students, colleagues, and friends often spoke of the subtle ways he shifted their thinking—nudging them toward more holistic, heart-centered ways of seeing the world. His lessons continue in the lives of those he mentored, many of whom have gone on to lead healing work, teach, and build communities inspired by his example.
Honoring Indigenous Legacy: A Life of Truth and Reconciliation
One of the most profound chapters of Dave’s life came in his dedication to Indigenous justice and cultural remembrance. Through his work with the Noquisi Initiative, he sought to honor the original stewards of the land—the Cherokee people—and to bring visibility to their ongoing legacy in the region. Dave helped facilitate the creation of a Cherokee-language land acknowledgment at the Strawberry Gap Trail in Western North Carolina, a powerful act of respect and remembrance.
This work was never about ego or credit for Dave. He moved quietly, listening deeply, and following the guidance of Cherokee elders and community members. His role was that of ally, advocate, and bridge-builder. He believed that healing the land also meant healing our historical memory, and he worked to foster spaces of truth-telling and reconciliation with care, accountability, and humility.
Community Member, Friend, and Sacred Witness
Dave’s presence in Asheville and beyond extended into countless circles. He was a beloved member of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, where he offered his wisdom in both practical and spiritual ways. Whether helping during harvests, offering healing to workers, or playing music in the fields, Dave moved through this community with grace, always in service.
He was also known for his involvement in local food co-ops, permaculture networks, and interfaith spiritual gatherings. He showed up where he was needed—with his tools, his hands, or his heart. At memorials, he sang. At births, he blessed. At community meetings, he listened with attention and always asked the right question.
Above all, Dave was a friend. A sacred witness to others’ journeys. A man who remembered your name, your story, and your essence. He carried hundreds of people’s joys and sorrows with tenderness, and his counsel was sought by many in times of transition. To be in Dave’s presence was to be seen.
A Legacy Beyond Words
David Sidney James Hamilton leaves behind more than memories—he leaves behind a living legacy. His songs are still sung. His students still teach. The soil he tended continues to bear fruit. The land acknowledgment at Strawberry Gap continues to honor the Cherokee language. The seeds he planted—literal and metaphorical—continue to grow.
He is survived by a wide and loving circle of family, friends, students, collaborators, and community members, all of whom carry forward pieces of his light. While the grief of his passing is profound, so too is the gratitude for his life. As one community member wrote, “Dave didn’t just teach us how to live. He taught us how to live well—with care, with reverence, with love.”
A memorial service celebrating Dave’s life will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, friends and loved ones are encouraged to share stories, songs, and prayers in his honor.
Donations in his memory can be made to Root Cause Farm, the Noquisi Initiative, or any local organization supporting food justice, ecological stewardship, or Indigenous sovereignty.
