Obituary for Trustee Donald Davis
On the morning of May 10, 2023, the Lord called Donald Davis home. He was born on June 16, 1936, in Quitman, GA to the late Maurice Davis-Johnson and the late Wilson Davis. At an early age, Donald loved to attend Sunday School and church with his grandmother, Clara Sheffield, and became a member of Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Quitman. He stayed in Quitman with his grandmother when his mother decided to move to Cleveland, OH for better opportunities. Donald was the eldest of three (3) brothers and four (4) sisters. He graduated from Brooks High School where he played on the football team and afterwards went to Savannah State College where he played on the varsity football team. He was active in intramural sports and sang in the Men’s Glee Club.
Yearning for the big city and following his father, Donald moved to Brooklyn, NY after his sophomore year in college. In New York he secured a position with the United States Post Office where he worked for three (3) years. While living in New York, he met his bride to be Virginia Wells at a Tennessee State University alumni dance. They were inseparable until his passing. They married on June 8, 1963. Virginia urged Donald to go back to college and finish his degree. He thought about it and decided that he would go back to Savannah State College as his wife suggested and complete his degree. He left his bride in New York and went back to Savannah, GA. When he returned to New York, he had his B.S. degree in Physical Education and a new baby girl named Sharon.
After receiving his degree, Donald became the head of the N.Y.C. Poverty Program for the community, served by Public School 138 in Brooklyn and worked there for a little over a year. From there, he began working at McBurney Branch YMCA as the Assistant Physical Director where he served for several years. His next job was at Huntington High School in Huntington, New York where his first position was an Attendance Coordinator. During this time, his second daughter, Arlette, was born and the following year, his son Donald was born. After the birth of his son, he went back to college to obtain his master’s degree and graduated from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY with a MSW in Social Work. This degree allowed him to embark on a new career at Huntington High School as a Social Worker where he worked for over 20 years until his retirement.
Donald enjoyed his free time and especially during the summers when school was out, he would do extra activities with his family, travel to visit family in Cleveland, OH, visit his homeboys that he grew up with in Georgia, and take a few cruises. He went to Aruba with friends and his favorite place to visit was Las Vegas with his wife, especially when he retired. He was skillful on the grill and loved to barbecue and always boasted he made the best spaghetti with his special sauce.
Donald took pride in his lawn, keeping it fertilized, watered, and so green that he did not like for his children and their friends to play on it. He grew a garden in his backyard with a variety of vegetables. He also had other jobs that he loved to do which included interior painting that he not only did for his home but also for his friends and family. He helped his next-door neighbor, Charles Hannah, with his carpenter business. He worked for a luxury car service. He was also a coach for his son’s Cambria Heights little league baseball team. The one odd job that would be a surprise, he was a Good Humor Ice Cream Man for a few summers. He loved to stay in shape and would get up early in the morning to walk a few miles before he began his day.
An avid music enthusiast, Donald loved jazz, blues, and gospel. He had acquired a great collection of records and CDs that he cherished and played when he was able to and loved to attend concerts. He also loved attending Broadway shows with his wife.
Donald loved his family and was a great provider. His wife, children, and grandchildren meant everything to him, and he played an active role in their lives. Education was especially important to him and his wife and they made sure that all their children went to college and were debt-free upon finishing. He was most proud when his son attended and graduated from his alma mater, Savannah State University.
Donald was an active alum of Savannah State University. He was also an active member at Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, NY where he sang on the Men’s Choir and later became a Trustee.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Davis; brothers Walter and Bruce Johnson; and sisters Patricia James and Clara (Bootsie) Ricks.
Donald leaves wife, Virginia, for over 59 years to cherish his wonderful memories. Two (2) daughters, Sharon Davis of Upper Marlboro, MD; Arlette Davis of Cambria Heights, NY, and son, Donald Davis of Cambria Heights, NY. Three (3) grandchildren, Jenna Davis and twins Adrian and Keira Davis. Two sisters, Elaine Hall of Clayton, NC and Maureen Teague of Upper Marlboro, MD and one brother, Michael Johnson of Cleveland, OH. Two (2) brothers-in-law, Leland Hall of Dayton Beach, FL, and Raymond James of Cleveland, OH. Two (2) sisters-in-law, Annie Dickerson of Philadelphia, PA, and Agnes (Ray) Coletraine of Charlottesville, VA, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Lovingly Submitted
The Family
Yearning for the big city and following his father, Donald moved to Brooklyn, NY after his sophomore year in college. In New York he secured a position with the United States Post Office where he worked for three (3) years. While living in New York, he met his bride to be Virginia Wells at a Tennessee State University alumni dance. They were inseparable until his passing. They married on June 8, 1963. Virginia urged Donald to go back to college and finish his degree. He thought about it and decided that he would go back to Savannah State College as his wife suggested and complete his degree. He left his bride in New York and went back to Savannah, GA. When he returned to New York, he had his B.S. degree in Physical Education and a new baby girl named Sharon.
After receiving his degree, Donald became the head of the N.Y.C. Poverty Program for the community, served by Public School 138 in Brooklyn and worked there for a little over a year. From there, he began working at McBurney Branch YMCA as the Assistant Physical Director where he served for several years. His next job was at Huntington High School in Huntington, New York where his first position was an Attendance Coordinator. During this time, his second daughter, Arlette, was born and the following year, his son Donald was born. After the birth of his son, he went back to college to obtain his master’s degree and graduated from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY with a MSW in Social Work. This degree allowed him to embark on a new career at Huntington High School as a Social Worker where he worked for over 20 years until his retirement.
Donald enjoyed his free time and especially during the summers when school was out, he would do extra activities with his family, travel to visit family in Cleveland, OH, visit his homeboys that he grew up with in Georgia, and take a few cruises. He went to Aruba with friends and his favorite place to visit was Las Vegas with his wife, especially when he retired. He was skillful on the grill and loved to barbecue and always boasted he made the best spaghetti with his special sauce.
Donald took pride in his lawn, keeping it fertilized, watered, and so green that he did not like for his children and their friends to play on it. He grew a garden in his backyard with a variety of vegetables. He also had other jobs that he loved to do which included interior painting that he not only did for his home but also for his friends and family. He helped his next-door neighbor, Charles Hannah, with his carpenter business. He worked for a luxury car service. He was also a coach for his son’s Cambria Heights little league baseball team. The one odd job that would be a surprise, he was a Good Humor Ice Cream Man for a few summers. He loved to stay in shape and would get up early in the morning to walk a few miles before he began his day.
An avid music enthusiast, Donald loved jazz, blues, and gospel. He had acquired a great collection of records and CDs that he cherished and played when he was able to and loved to attend concerts. He also loved attending Broadway shows with his wife.
Donald loved his family and was a great provider. His wife, children, and grandchildren meant everything to him, and he played an active role in their lives. Education was especially important to him and his wife and they made sure that all their children went to college and were debt-free upon finishing. He was most proud when his son attended and graduated from his alma mater, Savannah State University.
Donald was an active alum of Savannah State University. He was also an active member at Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica, NY where he sang on the Men’s Choir and later became a Trustee.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Davis; brothers Walter and Bruce Johnson; and sisters Patricia James and Clara (Bootsie) Ricks.
Donald leaves wife, Virginia, for over 59 years to cherish his wonderful memories. Two (2) daughters, Sharon Davis of Upper Marlboro, MD; Arlette Davis of Cambria Heights, NY, and son, Donald Davis of Cambria Heights, NY. Three (3) grandchildren, Jenna Davis and twins Adrian and Keira Davis. Two sisters, Elaine Hall of Clayton, NC and Maureen Teague of Upper Marlboro, MD and one brother, Michael Johnson of Cleveland, OH. Two (2) brothers-in-law, Leland Hall of Dayton Beach, FL, and Raymond James of Cleveland, OH. Two (2) sisters-in-law, Annie Dickerson of Philadelphia, PA, and Agnes (Ray) Coletraine of Charlottesville, VA, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Lovingly Submitted
The Family