David Benjamin Broadway, age 71, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024. Born in Bennettsville, SC, he grew up Rockledge, FL, having many adventures on the Indian River. He was the son of the late Benjamin and Doris Bottoms Broadway. He was also preceded in death by a son, David Benjamin Broadway, Jr., who passed away in 2004.
Dave began his career in law enforcement with the City of Cocoa, FL in 1974. He progressed in his career and in 1990 joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) as a Special Agent where he was hired to work in Florida’s first Anti-Terrorist Fugitive Bureau. He also served as the statewide coordinator for the Domestic Marijuana Eradication Program for 10 years. After the events of 9-11, Dave was selected to be one of a handful of agents assigned to the newly formed Multi-Agency Domestic Security Task Force and was FDLE’s regional representative on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He was also a deputized U.S. Immigration Officer. While at FDLE, Dave went back to school and in 2008 obtained a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He retired from law enforcement in 2008 and began teaching for the St. Petersburg College, Saint Leo University, Tallahassee Community College and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. In later years, he was an adjunct instructor at the Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC and was an instructor for the Public Agency Training Council. Dave had a gift for teaching and incorporated his life experiences into every lecture. He made a tremendous impact on his students and received many heartfelt letters expressing their appreciation.
In 2012, Dave and his wife Lynn retired to the mountains of Western North Carolina and built their dream home. He loved to travel and had many grand adventures with his wife, Lynn, during their 27-year marriage. Dave loved nature and had a special fondness for bears. He and Lynn made many trips to Alaska and Canada to view bear in their natural environment. He also loved to scuba dive and with Lynn, traveled the Caribbean where he was in awe of the beauty hidden under the sea. While in retirement, Dave fulfilled his dream of writing a book. He published two books, one for his wife Lynn about the loss of their dog, titled Zulu, the Reluctant Pitbull! and a second about his career in law enforcement called 10-7. Dave lived life with a passion, and if you were lucky enough to be in his orbit, he loved you hard. He loved his two grandchildren with that “Dave passion” and his world lit up when he was around them. He was a people person and held strong connections with the people in his life. He loved spending time with his gym friends and also maintained many close ties with friends from high school. A caretaker by nature, Dave was the true definition of a friend. He was always the first one to reach out to someone in need or who might need advice. He never wanted to burden anyone, so you rarely heard him complain.
Dave cherished and loved his wife, Lynn, to his core. They were true soul mates with a deep and lasting love. He doted on Lynn and looked after her throughout their marriage, demonstrating his love and concern for her every day. Love like that is rare, and Lynn will carry it with her forever Dave had a wonderful sense of humor, that along with his sage advice, will be deeply missed by so many. He left a legacy to his son Adam on what it means to be a man, a husband, and a father. He was a giving and caring person, loved and cherished by all who were honored and blessed to call him friend or family.
Surviving is his wife of 27 years, Lynn Donaldson Broadway; son Adam Broadway and wife Tia of Merritt Island, FL and grandchildren Shepherd and Skyler; sister Beth Follin; niece, Cammie Corbett and nephew Jeff Follin, and several other much-loved great- nieces and nephews and extended family members. A Celebration of Life service will begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 th, at First Baptist Church of Burnsville. Rev. Kathy Brawley will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 until 2 p.m., prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Yancey County Humane Society at 211 Kind Hearts Way, Burnsville, NC 28714, or to any wildlife organization close to your heart. Yancey Funeral Services is proudly serving the Broadway family. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
