Upton, Pastor Leonard David born January 9, 1942 was called to glory with his Heavenly Father on December 29, 2014 at Fort Sanders Hospital.  Pastor David graduated from High Point High School in Sweetwater, Tennessee in 1960. He was employed at the Knoxville News Sentinel for 32 years as a photo engraver and retired in 1991. 

He was called by God into the ministry at Saint Joseph House of Prayer under the leadership of the late Pastor Joseph Gordon, and then later called by God to Pastor Faith Christian Center in 1981. The first service was held at TurnKey III Center on Dandridge Ave from June 1981 to April 1982.In April 1982 he made a second move to 618 North Broadway and remained there until September 27, 1984.

God blessed him to move the church to 3536 Skyline Drive where he developed a strong outreach ministry which included feeding and clothing the homeless, and transporting inmates at the Work Release Center on Sunday mornings from Dandridge Ave. He served as chaplain for the Knoxville Police Department and Morgan County Correctional Center in Morgan County Tennessee and was awarded Chaplain of the Year 3 times. Pastor David had a special compassion for the senior citizens, inmates, homeless, and anyone who had a need in their life. He became a Senior Pastor at Honey Rock Victorious Church where he took pride participating and serving at the compassion dinner every 3^rd Saturday at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA feeding over 500 people. He completed studies and graduated from the Living Manna School of Ministry and Ministry International Institute.

Preceded in death by parents, Gustin and Nellie Upton; daughter,  Daviena Casby; brothers, William, Charles, and Eddie Upton; sisters, Elizabeth Upton and Josephine Wilkerson. Survived by wife, Katherine Upton. Former wife, Ann Upton, and devoted children, daughters, Angela Winton, Kimberly (Marvin) Duncan, son, David Jr., stepchildren, Nathaniel and Angela Taylor, brothers, Kenneth, Apostle Jerry (Janice) Upton, sisters, Beverly Dunn, Brenda (Tommy) Hardy, seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and Honey Rock Church family, including spiritual sons and daughters. Special thanks to Fort Sanders Hospital 3^rd West Wing and Holston Healthcare for all the love and care you gave during his illness.

The family will be receiving friends at 2401 Brooks Rd, Knoxville, TN  37914. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2015 (11:30 am) at Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman St., Knoxville, TN  37915.  They will receive friends the day of the funeral from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. The interment will immediately follow the service at Sherwood Memorial Gardens, 3176 Airport Highway, Alcoa, TN  37701. Doves will be released to conclude the service.

This obituary was posted on Monday, December 29th, 2014 at 2:30 pm.
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