WEST COLUMBIA – Dr. Keith Davis passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Born at Clifton, NC in a cabin on the North Fork of the New River. He was the son of the late Ted Eugene Davis and Mary Flossie Roland Davis.
He attended Duke University for his BA and PhD degrees in Psychology. He taught at Princeton University, University of Colorado, Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina. At Carolina, he served as Professor, Chairman of the Department, Interim Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and University Provost.
He was most proud of his accomplishments as teacher and researcher, with over 120 publications. He served as founding associate editor of the journal, "Personal Relationships," series editor of "Advances in Descriptive Psychology" and Executive Editor of the "Journal of Social Psychology." He was elected as a Fellow of the American Psychological Society. In 2001, he was selected to receive USC’s Educational Foundation Award for Research in Humanities and Social Sciences. After his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, he embraced his role as teacher, sharing his knowledge with anyone who was interested.
He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow, a founding member of the Society for Descriptive Psychology, a member of the Golden K Kiwanis Club and Chamber Pots.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Reeves Davis; four daughters, Rachel Newhouse (Jeff) of Alexandria, VA, Rebecca Davis (Francene Machetto) of Falls Church, VA, Jessica Davis (Jonathan Zilinski) of Alexandria, VA, and Kristin Davis of Los Angeles, CA; six grandchildren, Zoe Newhouse, Elias Newhouse (Simona), Will Newhouse, Jakob Zilinski, Gemma Davis, and Wilson Davis; and two great-grandchildren, Carter and Kyrese Newhouse.
The family wishes to thank Still Hopes Sanders R. Guignard Rehabilitation Suite and Solutions for Living at Home for their excellent care in his last months.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 pm, Sunday November 17, 2024 at the Keenen Event Center at Still Hopes.
Memorials may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout
Parkinson’s Disease Foundation:
Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area
3570 Olney Laytonsville Rd #490
Olney, MD 20830
or
The Resident Assistance Fund at Still Hopes,
1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169
Stillhopes.org/donate
