Jewell Andrew Davis Jr.

Jewell was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where his father was a founding member of the large Accounting firm Smoake, Davis, and Nixon. Jewell graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. An outstanding athlete he lettered in football. Then at Jacksonville Junior College he lettered in track. Later at the University of Florida he lettered in baseball. Jewell’s summers where spent at Jacksonville Beach and his love of the ocean was life-long.

At age 19 he traveled with the youth choir from his church in Jacksonville to Ridgecrest to the Baptist Conference Center in the mountains of North Carolina. There he met a lovely, lighthearted girl named Joy, whose father was State Music Secretary for the Baptist Convention in Mississippi. From their first meeting there was never anyone else for either of them. Leaving Ridgecrest they each returned to college, she to Mississippi and he to Florida.

Within the year Jewell had joined the Air Force and was sent to Okinawa, Japan for a two year tour. The long distance romance lasted with letters crisscrossing the ocean daily and immediately upon his return he and Joy were married. They left at once to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where Jewell finished his remaining time in the Air Force. While there, Joy was a secretary to the Ministry of Music at the First Baptist Church, while Jewell served at Tinker Air Force Base. Their time there left them with many long lasting friendship.

Upon discharge Jewell returned to the University of Florida to complete his degree in Electrical Engineering. Their two children, a son and daughter were born during this time. Graduation brought several offers and Jewell chose to come to Texas to the Aircraft Corporation, Ling Temco Vought. There he served for 33 years in various leadership positions with the A-7 Program, at times representing the company in Athens, Greece and London, England. One of his most exciting projects was the launching of the Scout Rocket for Scientific Atmospheric Exploration from Wallops Island, Virginia in the Atlantic.

Jewell and Joy raised their family in the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas where Jewell served as a Deacon, a Sunday school teacher and Superintendent and as well as one of the Pastor’s praying partners.

In his retirement Jewell taught computer courses at Eastfield Community College for 10 years. For 3 summers he taught Informational Computer Systems at The Christian University in Kiev, Ukraine. He raised funds for a computer lab which is named in his honor.

Their two children gave Jewell pride and pleasure in life. Son, Dr. William Jewell Davis, is a Physician in Lubbock, Texas. His wife, Kathy Davis has been a beautiful addition to our family. Daughter, Drew Ann (Davis) Borsos is married to Dan Borsos, CEO of an Engineering firm in Nashville, Tennessee. Drew Ann is a popular actress in the community theatres of the city. There are four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Each one held a special place in Jewell’s heart.

Our lives are devastated without him here with us, but he promised in his usual way to save a place for us all at the Lord’s Table! We look forward to that day of Reunion.

In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jewell Davis's name to The First Baptist Church 1707 San Jacinto Dallas, Texas 75201. www.firstdallas.org