BY JIMMY SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
The son bears a striking resemblance to the father — a tall fellow with dark facial hair and expressive, caring eyes.
The son also shares a name with the father, David R. Chew Jr., known for a life of caring and serving that became a legacy after his death.
Chew was a career emergency medical technician who also was a lieutenant with the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Co.
Caring even was Chew’s side job — he was a United Methodist pastor who had formerly served the Greenbackville charge and had just been installed to lead a Hallwood church.
Chew died serving on June 16, 2012, when a fire engine in which he was a passenger crashed in Nelsonia on its way to a vehicle crash.
“David gave up his life for the sake of service to others,” said the Rev. Tammy Estep, then the area supervisor of the United Methodist Church, at Chew’s funeral, four days after his death.
The funeral, held at Metompkin Elementary School with full firefighter honors, became a community legend because of its sheer size.
The father was 30 when he died. The son was 3 when it happened.
Almost 14 years later, the son, David R. Chew III, stood beside his mother and family members and watched as a section of road in Parksley was officially named for his namesake.
David R. Chew Jr. Memorial Road was officially named on Monday, May 25, during Memorial Day services in Parksley.
The section of Route 316 named after Chew runs from the north side of Parksley to the road’s intersection with Nelsonia Road in Bloxom.
Two signs will be installed — one in Parksley and one in front of the Bloxom Volunteer Fire Co., from which Chew responded to his final call.
Accomack County Supervisor Jeff Parks read the resolution dedicating the roadway as a large crowd in attendance listened.
On March 19, 2025, the Accomack County Board of Supervisors approved the resolution naming the road for Chew.
It said Chew died while “faithfully serving the county” and that naming the road in his memory will “recognize his sacrifice.” The name change was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board last fall.
In a 2019 interview, Rebecca Chew, David Chew Jr.’s widow, said their young son sometimes would ask what happened to his father.
“We’ll be riding along, and he’ll ask, ‘Tell me what happened. How did Daddy die?’” Rebecca Chew said.
On Monday, the son watched during a ceremony as an entire community remembered the father’s death.
And the road signs bearing the name of the father will ensure the community always remembers.
