MSgt David James Pulliam

David J. Pulliam, 86, of Burlington, NC passed away on October 18, 2021 due to natural causes. David was generous even to the end of his life, and he requested his whole body be donated for medical research at a state university. A memorial will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Lowe Funeral Home on Saturday, November 6, 2021.

David was born in Caswell County, NC on October 13, 1935. He graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1952. Being the only son, he spent much of his youth and teenage years helping his father as sharecroppers on the farm. In 1955 at the age of 19 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Master Sergeant David J. Pulliam retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1981. He had a distinguished military career that spanned over 26 years, including deployment to Vietnam in which he received the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in addition to numerous awards, ribbons and medals. Always a diligent worker, he became employed in 1982 with the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail Center in Greensboro, NC until his retirement in 2002. As he headed off to work he would chant in a hearty laugh, "neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"; and if you ordered those heavy sets of encyclopedias in the 1980s and 1990s, he assisted in its distribution.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Concepcion “Connie” Sahulga, two children; David Royce Pulliam and Regina Pulliam, his parents James and Monie Pulliam, and two sisters Christine Hurdle and Jennie Wilson. He is dearly missed by sons James Larry (Denise) of Philadelphia, PA, Anthony of Burlington, NC, Emmanuel Sahulga of Burlington, NC, Gerald Sahulga of Burlington, NC, daughters, Barbara Richardson of Greensboro, NC, Mary Joy Jones (Marty) of Richmond, VA, Denise Pulliam Holliday (Donnell) of Glenn Dale, MD, JoAnn Ashmore (John) of Richmond, VA,  Irene Richardson (Paul) of Whitsett, NC. Also mourning their loss are his siblings Hallie Winstead of Stockton, CA, Eula Winston (Bill) of Stone Mountain, GA, and Betty Long (Lewis) of Charlotte, NC. He leaves behind 18 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and recently departed yet beloved German Shepherd mix “Friend”.

He was an active member of NAACP volunteering with voter registration and driving voters to polls. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Alamance NAACP in David's honor. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation and sincerely thank you for your kind expressions of sympathy. We would also like to thank Lowe Funeral Home for their professional and dedicated services during this difficult time.