Charles Jones Davis III

Charles J. Davis, III, 77, of Midlothian, Virginia entered into eternal rest on September 18th, 2023 after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer and a recent brief but insurmountable battle with COVID. Charlie, as he was known to all who loved him, was a man for whom no words could ever adequately describe his presence, his demeanor, or his ability to use humor and guileless charm to meet everyone at their level and put them at ease. Born on 8/16/46 in Rocky Mount, Virginia to CJ and Marie Davis, Charlie grew up in small-town surroundings before heading to the University of Virginia in 1964, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He then served in the US Air Force Audio Visual Service in Mississippi and Ohio and with the American Forces Radio and Television Service in Diyarbakir, Turkey. In 1972, upon returning back home and moving to Richmond, he devoted time to raising his family and building his career, which initially consisted of more work in live radio at WRVA 1140 -- in the days before social media and 24-hours news updates, Charlie, first as a reporter, then news editor and finally news anchor, would keep Richmond apprised of all the most current ‘breaking news’ events as they were happening. From 1978 – 1980 he then served as the Director of Information for the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, a role which honed his skills in speechwriting, advertising and message delivery, and also allowed interaction with the Virginia state legislature. Beginning in 1980, he then delved headfirst into all things Virginia politics, serving as Executive Assistant and Press Secretary to Virginia Governor John N. Dalton, advising the governor and his campaign on public opinion and image development, and implementing the administration’s programs through news releases, daily media briefings, and interaction with the legislature and business communities. This work then dovetailed into the beginnings of his career in lobbying and government relations, starting with CSX Corporation in 1983 where he ultimately served as Regional Vice President, directing their government interactions and being an integral part of advancing their legislative agenda. After his work there, he and his wife Christine launched Davis Consultants, Incorporated on January 1, 1991, a lobbying and consulting firm that grew into a successful political enterprise largely through his outgoing personality and unparalleled networking. Charlie took pride in his family and was both preceded in death and survived by people who loved him dearly. He was a devoted son to his parents CJ and Marie, often taking trips to Rocky Mount as an adult for some combination of mowing the lawn, attempting to clean out freezers full of food from the last century, and enjoying some good naps on comfortable sofas! He was also a loving brother to his sister Anne who passed away in 2021, a hardship which he was able to bear largely due to the wonderful support from her partner Janet; he and Anne had a special bond full of sharp wit, inside jokes, and a mutual desire to not take life or themselves too seriously. Perhaps above all, he took the most pride in being a dedicated and supportive husband and father. He was married to and is survived by his loving wife Christine J. Davis, his faithful partner of nearly 40 years who was by his side through thick and thin as a wife, stepmother to his sons, and best friend. His eldest son, Charles J. Davis, IV, affectionately known as Chad, passed away in 2019, which was difficult but able to be handled by Charlie only because of the love and support of his many friends. His youngest son, Dr. Drew Davis, lives and works as a trauma surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlie would never want to hear the details of any of Drew’s trauma cases, but per the report of many of Charlie’s friends, would never fail to find an opportunity to tell people about how proud he was of his “son the surgeon.” Almost as important as his family, Charlie’s love of his many pets was also deep and heartfelt; he would often talk about taking Champ, his Irish Setter, out for their morning walk and coffee (as therapeutic for Charlie as it was for the dog!) Special friends enriched his life as well, notably Marie Atkins Turner. Charlie touched the lives of many people across the political spectrum in Virginia and beyond for over 40 years. From political allies to respected colleagues, lobbyists to legislators, and senators to presidents, his gregarious personality meant he never met a stranger, and never met a person that he couldn’t hash things out with (perhaps with a cigarette in hand and sly grin on his face!). His many offices over the years grew with the number of framed pictures, letters, anecdotes, and memorabilia from his many meetings, encounters, and relationships that he intentionally and steadfastly cultivated. The personal interaction for him was what mattered above all else. He firmly believed that after all was said and done with meetings and sessions and phone calls and strategies, taking that little bit of extra time to write a personalized note to someone – thanking them for their time, congratulating them on a good outcome, or just passing along a humorous quote or story – would make all the difference in terms of how that relationship developed. Without fail, that effort did indeed make all the difference – as evidenced by the sprawling network of friends and associates that he built. Charlie was larger than life, and remains so in death – he will be incredibly missed as a husband, father, friend and mentor to all those who knew him. The family will receive friends Saturday, September 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nelsen Funeral Home, 4650 S. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA 23231. A funeral service will then be held at this same location on Sunday, September 24, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Washington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in his memory. Online condolences may be made at www.nelsenrichmond.com. A “Celebration Of Life” will also be held in Charlie’s honor at the Dominion Club, 6000 Dominion Club Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059 on Sunday, October 15, from 1-4 p.m.