Jerry Clifford Davis

Jerry had a brief battle with angiosarcoma this month at Memorial Hospital and with the assistance of hospice, spent his last days with his wife and family at his Chattanooga home.

Jerry served in the Navy on the USS Saratoga as part of the Naval Blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served two tours in Vietnam with the 8th Mobile Construction Battalion at Marble Mountain at Da Nang, and Chu Lai. Jerry also served on staff for Commanders at NAS Jacksonville, FL; at Key West where he served as staff journalist and photo grapher, and where he was one of twelve specially chosen from Navy/Marines to attend a special Photo/Journalism school at the University of Syracuse. While in Syracuse he was injured and lost an eye in a sledding incident. He was evaluated at the Naval Hospital in California before serving his last position in Guam on the staff of Rear Admiral Morris on then was medically retired from the Navy after 11 years of service.

After his naval retirement, Jerry worked as a Probation & Parole Officer for the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Criminal Justice. Jerry taught at Cleveland State Community College, Chattanooga State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and retired from teaching with over 20 years. He has enjoyed these last few years Rangering at Moccasin Bend Golf Course with his cousin Mike Davis.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Clifford Davis and Mrs. Virginia Cooper Davis and his sister Linda Ann Davis Layman.

Jerry is survived by the love of his life for the last 44 years Marilyn Higgins Davis; his brother Larry (Linda) Davis of East Ridge; his sister Janice (Don) Miller of Hixson; his 6 children Jerry (Heather) Davis, Central Square, NY; Terry (Kathy) Davis, Harrison TN; Robin (Tommy) Francis, East Ridge TN; Kathleen (Keith) Krafve Vancouver, WA; Shannon (John) Morgans, Durham, NC; Sean (Geneane) Higgins, Columbia, SC; 16 grandchildren, Jeremy, Ryan, Miri, Aidan, Morgan, Steven, Matthew, Casey, Ross, Andrew, Katie, Jack, Courtney,Chase, Cross and Madeline 6 great-grand children; Raven, Raidan, Gavin, Zoey, Reese and Shay along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be Friday April 5, 2024 at National Cemetery in Chattanooga at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga.

Arrangements are by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, TN 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.