David J. Wells was a South Carolina native, born October 20, 1917. He graduated from Furman University in 1941 and served as a chaplain in the Armed Forces during WWII. Wells graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1944. He served as pastor of Eutawville and Corinth Baptist Churches from 1946-1952. He was pastor of West Hartsville Baptist Church from 1953-1973, Varnville Baptist Church from 1973-1979, and retired in 1984 after serving as pastor at Nesmith Baptist Church from 1979-1984. Wells served on the Board of Trustees of Furman University 1953-1954 and 1957-1962.

Wells was married to Josephine “Jo” Brunson (1918-2009) and they had three children. Wells passed away September 16, 2002 in Abbeville, S.C.