David Lorenzo Brain, Jr

David Lorenzo Brain, Jr., of Atlanta, and formerly of Lexington, died on February 2, 2016.

David was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 4, 1922, to David Lorenzo Brain, Sr. and Sophia Hilliger Brain. In high school, he met Frances Hollis who became his sweetheart and future wife. They married in 1944 while David was serving in the U.S. Army, and had two daughters.

In 1952 David graduated magna cum laude from Baldwin Wallace University while studying days and working nights to support Frances and his daughters. The family moved to Boston where David attended Harvard Business School on the GI bill graduating in 1954 with a Masters in Business Administration. The family moved to Baltimore where they lived for seven years and then to Kentucky where they maintained their primary residence, first in Louisville and then in Lexington, until 2010.

David's professional career was in the insurance industry. He received his Chartered Life Underwriter's designation in 1950. Following his graduation from Harvard he joined Monumental Life Insurance Company. In 1962, he joined Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company and became President in 1973. After retiring from Kentucky Central he was the founding President of CompDent (later American Dental Plan) an insurance and management services firm that pioneered prepaid dental insurance coverage for businesses. In recognition of his professional achievement and leadership, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree by Baldwin Wallace University.

In later years, David wanted his life to be a balance of family, community, church, and self with no portion being over developed at the expense of the others. David gave abundantly of his time, talent and treasure in each area. His love, support and care for Frances was obvious to all who knew them. He placed a high priority on spending time – over meals, while taking walks, enjoying vacations and holidays together – with Frances, their children and grandchildren. He gave of his time and talent to many organizations including the United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and Junior Achievement. He was founder and President of the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation, a philanthropic foundation named in honor of his wife and her family and dedicated to providing for the basic needs of the underserved. He established the David Brain Leadership Program (later the David and Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement) at Baldwin Wallace University to teach and mentor undergraduates in leadership skills and promote the understanding that it is the responsibility of all leaders to give of themselves to enhance their communities. He established scholarship funds at both Baldwin Wallace University and Asbury Theological Seminary. He attended First Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school, brought communion to shut ins, and encouraged his children to be active members of the church.

David is predeceased by his wife Frances who died in 2012. He is survived by his daughter Nancy Brain and her husband John Watson of Portland, Maine, his daughter Diane Bryant and her husband Mike Bryant of Atlanta, his grandchildren Jessica Hauser (Kelley) of Wilton, Connecticut, Michael Bryant (Carolina) of Atlanta, Katie Bryant of Atlanta, and Jamie Watson of Chicago, Illinois, and his great-grandchildren Rosalie Hauser, Cecilia Bryant and Robinson Hauser.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Milward's on North Broadway in Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the High Street Neighborhood Center in Lexington.




Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033