Mr. Donald Ray Davis, Sr.

Obituary For Mr. Donald Ray Davis, Sr.

Donald Ray Davis made his entrance into life on January 26,1942 and was called home on January 26, 2024, after 82 years of life. Following months of in-home Hospice care, Don passed peacefully at Hospice House of Randolph.

Donald, sometimes called “Donald Ray” or “Don” was the fourth of five children born to Edward and Idell Davis in High Point North Carolina, where he spent his early childhood years. Ed and Idell later moved the family to Trinity North Carolina, where the family began attended St. Mary’s United Methodist Church.

Donald achieved in academics and sports in school; he was Junior High Salutatorian and played High School basketball. He was graduated from William Penn High School in High Point and participated in social activities with his graduating class up until the Covid outbreak. One of Donald’s proudest claims to life was his involvement along other William Penn High School students, as a second group organized by the NAACP to conduct Sit-Ins. Another was his receipt of a partial scholarship to Tuskegee University (then Tuskegee Institute), which he learned of after joining the United States Army in 1960. In the Army Donald was a paratrooper and “Screaming Eagle” of the 101 Airborne, stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky. He achieved the rank of Specialist (E-4) and was honorably discharged on July 26, 1963. He fondly spoke often of the opportunity the army provided him to travel and experience life outside of that he had known in North Carolina.

On October 17, 1964, Donald married Eloise Geneva Davis of Cedar Square, a friend of his younger sister Cathy, whom he met at William Penn. The two, married 40 years, reared three children Djuana, Don Jr. and Rod in Trinity, and instilled the importance of achieving in all areas especially academics. Donald often expressed his pride over having assured they began their adult lives as college graduates after receiving college scholarships.

After working for a period as a mechanic, Donald continued his education at Guilford Technical Institute (now Guildford Technical Community College) in Business Administration. He worked at textile company Adams Millis Corporation in in High Point, North Carolina, eventually becoming a Laboratory Technician. After the company closed its doors, Donald was employed by Dow Corning Corp., in Greensboro North Carolina, as a Machine Set Up Operator. Donald was proud of his achievements at Dow Corning as a lead of the “Mirror Mount” division, receiving recognition and traveling to their Elizabethtown Kentucky location to train others and transfer the division. He made life-long friends at Dow Corning, whom he stayed in touch with after his retirement following 30 years of service.

From his early years, Donald enjoyed fishing, repairing automobiles and gardening. He later added “cook” for the family, preparing southern “soul food” as well as other cultural cuisine; he was often asked to prepare food for Church revivals. Donald was an avid sports fan, supporting the NC State Wolfpack in college sports and Pro teams Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Redskins in earlier days and later the Carolina Panthers. He also loved Golf and Racing. Donald also enjoyed reading and completion crossword puzzles; he especially loved black literature including Toni Morrison, Walter Mosely and Richard Right and faithfully completed that in the High Point Enterprise for 30 years. Donald loved Blues and Jazz music; favorite artists included Otis Redding, Bobby Womack, BB King,Bobby Blue Bland and Nancy Wilson among others attending local concerts on several occasions.

Following the death of wife Geneva in 2005, Donald spent time raising his vegetable garden, perfecting his lawn, fishing and spending time with his children and his grandchildren, including his second daughter, Educator Kerrie and her family with whom he continued to became extremely close. Seven years later, he met Joanne Small-James of Concord, NC, who became a dedicated and loving companion to whom he attributed renewing his life. The two both owned beloved Chihuahuas (Joanne’s Mu Mu and Don’s Odie) and were widowed the same year after spouses were taken by cancer. Some special outings Don enjoyed were his attendance at first Z-Max Dragway race and the Hendrix Car Museum Classic Car Exhibit showing all cars from first to most recent, a special lunch invitation to the NASCAR Restaurant, dinner escort for Joanne’s Aunt and Concord Council Woman Ella Mae P. Smalls to the NAACP Awards dinner for receipt of Woman of the Year, chauffeuring Council Woman Smalls during the city-wide Martin Luther King Parade and escorting her during the naming of Cabarrus avenue bridge for her late husband Allen T. Small, Cabarrus County Educator and President of Barber Scotia College.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Idell and Edward Davis, his wife Geneva, sister Betty Gibson, brother Leon Davis and brothers-in-law John Dixon (Peggy) and Frank Brasfield (Cathy).

He leaves behind to cherish his memories his two sisters, four children Djuana Young (Tim), Donald Davis, Jr. (Mia), William Rod Davis, and Kerrie McKinney Douglas (Jerry), six grandchildren (Delwyn, Donovan and Trenton Davis, Kelby, Hadasa and Zion Douglas, two bonus grandchildren Christian Young and Dominique Watson, eight great grandchildren and cherished companion Joanne Smalls-James: along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Glenola. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and at the home on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Phillips Funeral Service, Inc.