Junius "Junie" Edward Davidson, III died peacefully in his sleep at Trezevant Manor, in Memphis, on June 26, 2024. He was 87. He lived a full life--as an educator, expert amateur botanist and gardener, community leader, and with an exceptional devotion to his family.
Junie was born in Talladega, Alabama, April 19, 1937, to Glenda DeLong and June E. Davidson, Jr. During the Second World War he lived on the Malden Army Airbase in southeast Missouri before moving to his father's hometown, Holly Grove, Arkansas, population 600. In addition to normal "country kid" activities like huntin' and fishin', Junie had the only newspaper route in town and roamed the streets on his bicycle. He excelled as a student and athlete. After high school, 1955, the family moved to Memphis where he enrolled in Rhodes College (Southwestern) at Memphis where he played football, ran on the track team, majored in English, and was president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
Upon graduation, in 1959, for several years, he taught at Presbyterian Day School (Memphis), Westminster School (Atlanta), and became Headmaster of St. George's Independent School (Germantown) beginning in 1965. During this period he was also in the Air Force Reserve.
In 1965, he married the love of his life, Marilee Aycock, known by all as "Punk." They have two daughters, Shannon Davidson of Raleigh, North Carolina and Lee Holt (Kevin) of Memphis, and four grandchildren, JJ Pflasterer, Joel Pflasterer, Dorothy Holt, and Charlie Holt. He has a brother, William V. Davidson (Sharon) of Memphis.
His most serious hobby was gardening. Over the years he and Punk, both Master Gardeners, developed beautiful, formal gardens in their expansive backyard where they produced and gave away thousands of flowers. He enjoyed the Hosta Society, the Horticultural Society, the Memphis Botanic Garden, and especially his re-founding of the Mid-South Daffodil Society. He loved participating in the annual daffodil shows held at Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Privately, he lectured to generations of young children to encourage their search for the "perfect daffodil."
Junie was always involved in community activities. For his final career, Schering Plough hired him to oversee their outreach efforts in Memphis. As Mr. Plough's director of community affairs and spokesperson, he was involved in many charitable and volunteerism projects throughout the Mid-South. He served on many not-for-profit boards in Memphis, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, Leadership Memphis, and Junior Achievement of the Mid-South. He supported all his children's extracurricular activities, including horseback riding and taking advantage of any opportunity to coach any sport.
His personal code matched that of St. George's: "be honest, dependable, and respectful; never lie cheat, steal, or excuse those behaviors in others."
Family and friends are invited to visit together and celebrate his life on Monday, July 1 with visitation at 9:00 AM and the funeral service at 10:00 AM, at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. Burial will immediately follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. A reception at the funeral home will follow the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, or a charity of the donor's choice.
