John Davis

Who could have known? That fateful day on October 6, 1938 in St. Matthew, South Carolina, who could have known that the cry of the new born baby boy that split the stillness of the night would eventually swell to be the voice of an awesome son, a dedicated husband, a devoted father, a doting grandfather, a beloved mentor, an outstanding church leader and a dynamic pastor and soul winner? Who could have known?

Clearly, God knew! For it was God who ordained that John Davis, affectionately known as JD would spend the early formative years of his life under the care and tutelage of his maternal grandparents, the late John and Viola (Reese) Davis. Then God’s plan put him under the care of his mother Mary Davis and step-father, Marion Starks in Norristown, Pennsylvania. It was here, as an only child, that he developed a standard of excellence that followed him all through his life. An impeccable dresser and a man possessing a remarkable work ethic, the pursuit of excellence shaped his existence.

It was God who made him a loyal and dedicated friend whom people were drawn to. Just ask Ralph Cottman, his best friend from high school who maintained a nearly 70-year long friendship, speaking with him on a regular basis. It was God who made John someone that children, couples, singles and seniors were drawn to for counsel and support.

It was God who tapped John on the shoulder in 1964 when his romantic intentions were elsewhere and, instead, pointed his heart in the direction of the woman who would ultimately become not only his wife, but also his partner in ministry, Mrs. Lee Davis. According to God’s providence, this dynamic duo married on May 21, 1966 and together eventually turned the world upside down for Christ and His glory!

It was God who blessed their union with three outstanding children, all of whom have gone on to make profound contributions to the church and in the world.

It was God who trained John for service and developed his gifts as a worker at the Lee Tire Rubber Company from 1965 until 1980, during which time he served as a shop steward, vice president and eventually president of the local union. Here he developed the gift of advocacy and leadership. Here he learned to train and to mentor others. Here he helped save jobs and improved life for others. All of these skills he would use in full measure in his next assignment.

For it was also God who called him from the proverbial “plow to the pulpit” by eventually closing that company, but not before introducing the entire family to the message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at an evangelistic effort held at the Grace Tabernacle there in Norristown where the entire family was baptized on March 29, 1979.

God led them to enroll their children in church school and it was God who first laid a call on their lives to ministry by sending Beatrice Padron to recruit and train them, helping them see that they could afford the high cost of church school tuition by serving as literature evangelists. It all began with Lee selling the Heritage Bible and then John eventually joining her in handling the full library of life changing, soul saving literature. Sis. Padron, their dear friend and colleague of many years, says that it is a blessing for her to have been a part of their lives!

From their start in literature ministry, their feet never touched the ground and both John and Lee were called into full time ministry, first in the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and then to the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists by Elder Clarence Richardson who was the Publishing Director at the time. He says that is one of the best hires he ever did!

Clearly God was up to something! The team of John and Lee built one of the most successful publishing districts in North America, training some of the finest literature evangelists the world ever saw! Beginning in Long Island and Queens and then expanding to Brooklyn and Staten Island, under their able and dynamic leadership literally millions of dollars’ worth of life saving, truth telling literature found its way into the homes and hearts of judgement bound men and women. We won’t know until we get to Heaven how many people have accepted Christ as their Savior and been baptized through the ministry of Pastor Davis and his wife. Because of his gifts and the clear call of God upon his life, Pastor Davis was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1998 and in 2003 they retired and relocated from New York to Maryland. Certainly, as we consider the life of Pastor Davis, we are led to exclaim “what hath God wrought!”

This sweet singer in Zion who sang with various groups and even had a professional recording in his early years; this exercise enthusiast who played basketball well into his fifties and who regularly ran marathons from 5k to 20k, even applying to run in the New York City Marathon; this motorcyclist who for years was a member of the Norristown Thunder Guards motorcycle club; this social activist who could never just sit by and leave problems unaddressed; this son of God who served the church as deacon, elder, pathfinder director, co-family life ministries leader, men’s ministry leader and pastor; this member of the Pisgah Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bryans Road, Maryland; this child of God left the world a better place than he found it.

John sleeps in Jesus now. And only in eternity will the full import of his life and ministry be known. But until that glad day when in Zion’s bright morning we are finally reunited, never to part again, John leaves to mourn his passing and to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Merrill Lee Davis; his three adult children, John Shannon, Michelle Lee Hunt (Gregory), Marcus Hampton (Tawanda); three grandsons, Gregory C. Hunt III, Aru Sanders and Zebulun Jordan Davis; Cousins: the Kings of New York City, Rodney Joynes of New Jersey, the Saxons of Norristown, Pennsylvania and his beloved Milligan family also of Norristown with whom he had a special bond; four neighborhood sons, Michael Spriggs, Dennis Owens, Frank Wallace and Robert Aykock; a best friend, Ralph Cottman of Norristown, PA; an entire publishing family who served with him and a hosts of friends, neighbors, church members and ministerial colleagues who came to enjoy his company and benefit from his counsel and insights.

We did not know what God was up to back when John was first born. But we certainly found out and we are all the better for it! Take your rest oh man of God! We will see you in the morning!