David Freedman

David Bruce Freedman died Friday, September 3, 2021, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital due to complications from the Covid-19 virus. He was 64 years old. David was born December 1, 1956, to the late Roz and Abe Freedman. He grew up in Asheville, and his love of the mountains continued throughout his life. David graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979 and from its law school in 1982. After receiving his law degree, he moved to Winston-Salem.

During his nearly 40-year career as an attorney, David represented the powerful and the powerless in courtrooms across North Carolina and beyond. He won cases, praise and respect for his fierce loyalty to his clients, his skill as a litigator, his ethical conduct and professional integrity, and his talent for negotiating resolutions that provided fairness and justice.

David was most recently a partner in the law firm of Freedman, Thompson, Witt, Ceberio & Byrd. He was named the state’s best criminal defense attorney in 2006 by Business North Carolina magazine, was listed for 15 straight years by Best Lawyers in America, and had recently been selected by his peers to join the American College of Trial Lawyers.

As with other parts of his life, David gave back to the legal community. He was a past president of the Forsyth County Bar Association, lectured frequently before law groups on legal ethics, and had taught criminal procedure and trial practice as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Law. He was a past recipient of the Harvey Lupton award from the Forsyth County Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers Association.

David was an active member and past president of Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem.  David believed deeply in the Jewish principle of “tikkun olam,” our need to heal the world, and he gave his time and talents freely to make Winston-Salem and our state a better place to live.

David loved movies, music, riding his bike, and watching sports (particularly UNC and the Panthers). But most of all, he loved his family. He was devoted to Libby, his gentle rock and anchor, the string that allowed his kite to soar. His children were his pride and joy. David’s love for Jack, Gary, Ariel, and Chai knew no bounds. It can honestly be said that each child was his favorite. No visit with David was complete without him telling you of their accomplishments and their potential. He was happiest when all his children were under one roof, and the house filled with their Freedman laughter and enthusiasm.

Along with his wife and children, David is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Carolyn Freedman, of Baltimore, Maryland, and his sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Pablo Freedman-Cope, of Asheville. He also leaves behind an enormous circle of friends and colleagues whose lives he enriched. David was the person you wanted with you on your best days and needed beside you on your worst. Simply put, he made things better.  We remember his warmth and optimism, his sense of humor and hearty laugh, his wisdom and intelligence, and his ability to help each of us be our best self. May his memory be a blessing.

David's family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the ICU at Baptist Hospital for their care and compassion during the past two weeks. Donations in David's memory may be made to the Shalom Project of Winston-Salem (639 S. Green St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101) or to a charity of the donor's choosing.

There will be a private family service at Temple Emanuel on Sunday, September 5, 2021, at 7 p.m. A Livestream link will be available at the temple's website for anyone to join and observe the service. Please visit templeemanuelws.com for more information. Online condolences may be made at hayworth-miller.com