Charles Lamar Davis, age 73, resident of Columbus, passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at Columbus Specialty Hospital. Funeral Mass is scheduled at St. Anne Catholic Church on Saturday, May 2, 2015, 10 a.m. with Father Jeremiah McCarthy and Father Jacob Almeter officiating. Interment will follow at Parkhill Cemetery. Rosary will be said at Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby, Columbus on Friday, May 1, 2015, 6 p.m., with the family receiving friends after Rosary till 8 p.m.
Mr. Davis, son of the late Henry Clarence Davis and Jonnie Bass Davis, was born in Dothan, Alabama.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul Clarence Davis. Mr. Davis is survived by his mother, Jonnie Bass, Dothan, AL, wife -Geri M. Davis, children-Scott Charles Davis and wife, Capri, Danni Leigh Harris and husband, William, Charles Forbes Davis and wife, Julie and Aimee Elizabeth Davis and partner, Jennifer, all of Columbus, GA, sister, Mary Alice Veale and Husband, Dr. George Warren Veale, Sr. of Dothan,AL.; grandchildren, Molli Laine Harris, William Corbin Harris, Benjamin Charles Davis, Jonathan Winslow Davis and Remi Sawyer Davis; nieces and nephews, Natalie Snell, Courtney Ray, Melissa Johnston, Trey McGriff, George Warren Veale,Jr., Lindsay Veale-Edge., Steve Davis and Kim Macaluso.
Charles was born into this world on July 1, 1941 and the world has not been the same since.
His brother-in-law, Gene McGriff, described him as being, "Bigger than Life". Nobody ever left Charles without a smile on their face because of his always cheerful attitude or from one of his corny jokes.
Charles was a loyal and devoted friend. He was the consummate, "give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back" person. He was devoted to his family and his wife of 52 years, Geri.
He adored his 4 children Scott, Danni, Chuck and Aimee, who all thought they were his "favorite" kid.
Charles attended Auburn University on a scholastic scholarship. After leaving Auburn he joined Sears and Roebuck in their Manager Trainee Program. This is where he met Geri who was the Assistant Advertising Manager. They fell in love over lunches and coffee breaks in the Sears Coffee Shop. Charles was hired out of Sears to become an Allstate agent. At the time, Sears owned the insurance company. He and his family were transferred to Columbus, Ga as an Allstate agent in 1966.
Along with his growing family, his business also grew to become Charles Davis Financial Services, Inc. His loyal Allstate customers became his friends and for 45 years he devoted his energy to building the agency into one of the more successful agencies in the region. Among his awards were: 4- Chairman's Conferences, 5- National Conference and Leaders Forums, 9- Honor Ring Awards, 12- time Financial Leader, and 12- time Allstate Hall of Fame Honoree. His son, Charles F. Davis, is now President of the Charles Davis Agency.
After his retirement, he and Geri began traveling. His most memorable trip was to cruise the entire coast line of Italy. His favorite TV channel was the History Channel, because he would be able to spot areas of the world he had seen.
In 2011 Charles suffered a massive stroke. A stroke many people would not have survived, but God had other plans for this extraordinary man. Even though he was paralyzed on one side of his body and wheel chair bound, it didn't deter him from attending his grandson's football and baseball games. Or planting and harvesting a small raised garden Geri had built for him. He also played poker frequently with his poker"buddies" of 40 years, made a trip to his beloved beach condo and tried to make plans on how to get to the Grand Casino in Biloxi, MS.
His life after the stroke was a special time for all of his family and friends. He taught us all how to never give up, to preserver, to always be positive, non-judgmental, set high standards and goals. He always was appreciative of everything any one did for him. A special thanks to his caregivers, most especially, Ms. Andrea Burns. She and Charles had a special love for cookies and Reese's Peanut-butter Cups. His other wonderfully devoted caregivers were: Yvette Williams, Gwen Pugh, and Ikirin Bigelow.
There are so many wonderful stories on how Charles has touched so many lives during his lifetime. We were all truly blessed to have this man as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, son and friend.
Flowers may be accepted or contributions can be made to the Charles and Geraldine Davis Endowment for Scholarships in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.
Condolences may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com.
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