David Kent Millward, M.D.

Dr. David K. Millward, a cardiologist whose decades in medicine touched the lives of countless patients, colleagues, and students, died peacefully on May 5, 2026, at the age of 86. Those who knew him remember a man with a rare gift for people. To everyone who crossed his path, he was the kind of person who made you feel immediately at ease and, more often than not, left you laughing. It is no coincidence that a man so genuinely fond of people devoted his life to healing.

David was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, and grew up in Warrensburg, where his father owned Millward's Pharmacy. David distinguished himself early as a student at Warrensburg Central School, where his classmates voted him both "Most Likely to Succeed" and Mr. WCS - an honor recognizing character, service, and spirit. David credited those early years and "growing up in the laboratory of life" for shaping everything that followed.

He earned his Bachelor of Science from Tufts University and his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine. After completing his residency at the Medical College of Virginia, he served with the U.S. Public Health Service at the CDC in Atlanta, where he worked on the Heart Disease and Stroke Control Program and taught at Emory University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a Fellowship in Cardiology at North Carolina Memorial Hospital and became Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Dr. Millward set up his practice in Raleigh and spent his life as a trusted physician with Raleigh Internal Medicine, Cardinal Healthcare, and Carolina Cardiology Consultants. He gave his patients his personal number to call anytime, anywhere. He served for many years as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine, was named UNC Teacher of the Year in 1993, and received the Harry F. Dascomb, MD Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994. He was a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and served on the staff of Rex Hospital, Wake Medical Center, and Duke Health Raleigh, where he was named an Honorary Staff member.

David met Jean when they were assigned to the same patient at Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. They both became devoted champions of the cardiology community, including creating the "An Affair of the Heart" Ball benefiting the Raleigh Heart Association.

Away from medicine, David was an avid golfer - proudly the owner of not one but two holes-in-one - and a passionate photographer whose prints hung in his office and brought genuine joy to all who saw them. He brought the same attentiveness to his camera that he brought to his patients.

Above all, he found happiness and joy with his family. David is survived by his devoted wife, Jean; his daughters Janice Teates (John) and Julie Millward (Kathryn); his grandchildren, who affectionately call him Poppy and Papa - Katherine, Joseph Henry, Jack and Cameron; his brother Robert Millward (Denise); his brother-in-law, John L. Harris (Gig), and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, followed by a memorial service and reception at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 1520 Canterbury Road, at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, Texas 75284, or Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education, 224 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.

Service arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.