David Woodrow “Snapper” Merchant, 69, of Prosperity, SC, passed away on January 1, 2026.

A son of the late Woodrow & Dorothy “Dot” Swindler Merchant, he was a lifelong resident of Newberry County.

Mr. Merchant was an equipment operator for the timber industry in Newberry County. He retired from Doolittle Logging after more than 30 years with the company. “Snapper” faithfully served as a volunteer firefighter for the Prosperity/Stoney Hill Fire Department for 35+ years. He was also a member of the Prosperity Rescue Squad for many years. The Wildlife Federation was another organization he was involved in, and “Snapper” enjoyed the outdoors and fellowship of the group. Fishing was one of his favorite activities. He never met a stranger and had a servant’s heart. He was an active member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. When issues arose anywhere in the Stoney Hill and St. Luke’s communities, he was typically among the first to lend a hand to resolve them.

He is survived by his wife, Lydia Long Merchant; a son, Phillip (Kendall) Trotter; a daughter, Ingrid (Justin) Cassada; grandchildren, Andrew Cassada, Aiden Cassada and Nancy Faye Trotter; sisters Janice (Jerry) Kneece and Lynn (Harold) Fulmer; a sister-in-law, Elaine Long Bailey (Mark) and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, and will be announced when they are finalized.

Pallbearers will be Mark Hipp, Terry Koon, Steven Lake, Jimmy Martin, Chesley Minick, Tommy Nichols, Travis Slice and Jeffrey Turner. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Prosperity/Stoney Hill Fire Department and the Wildlife Federation.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 4056 St. Luke’s Church Rd., Prosperity, SC 29127 or Prosperity/Stoney Hill Fire Department, P. O. Box 361, Prosperity, SC 29127.