Jean Elizabeth Davis

Born in Highland Park, MI, she was a daughter of the late John Donald Davis and Mary Ann Orluck Davis. A graduate of Dearborn (MI) High School, she received her B.S Nursing degree at Michigan State University, followed by her Master’s degree at Hunter College in NYC. Her PhD in Clinical Nursing Research/Physiology/Neurophysiology was earned at University of Arizona, Tucson.

Her professional career was launched as an RN at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn. Entering academia, Dr. Davis taught several years in the California University system, including University of California - Davis and UCLA. She also taught at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Dr. Davis served more than a decade at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI., on the College of Nursing faculty, as an Associate Dean, and as Director of the Research Labs.

In 2015, she moved on to join Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis, MO. There, she served as professor and Senior Associate Dean for Research, as well as the PhD Program Director. Her St. Louis tenure included extensive collaborations with associates at Washington University.

In 2019, she joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina in the role of Program Director for the College of Nursing PhD program, also engaging with students as a professor.

Jean’s long career was focused on Sleep Research and as a Nurse Scientist she was acknowledged as a leader in the field. She was the recipient of numerous grants from the National Institute of Health and other research funding organizations.

Dr. Davis was well known nationally for her research, her teaching and her mentoring and has many colleagues and mentees across the country that both know and cherish her.

She was a member of many professional organizations, including FAAN, FNINR, and AASM among others, and during her career was the recipient of a myriad of honors and awards.

Jean enjoyed gardening, piano, the culinary arts, was a wine aficionado and an avid Gamecocks fan – her proudest possession being, perhaps, an autographed football by Coach Beamer. She also passionately followed the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Nancy Ann Davis-Schrag and brother-in-law John Mark Schrag. Surviving is her brother, J. Douglas Davis, Columbia.

Mr. Davis wishes to kindly thank many times over Dr. Jeanette Andrews, Dean, College of Nursing, University of South Carolina; nursing care staff and doctors at Prisma Baptist Hospital, Columbia; Dr. Collins; Greg Dunbar; Peter Holman; Rudi Nicholas; Paul and Kathy Pusecker; Steve and Suzy Weiss; and the many friends, students, associates, cohorts and acquaintances that have expressed condolences.

A remembrance reception will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine St, Columbia, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a Memorial Donation be made to the USC College of Nursing Reserve Fund in memory of Dr. Jean Davis.

A check can be made payable to:

"USC Educational Foundation (1B1527)"

You may wish to add "Dr. Jean Davis" to the check memo.

The mailing address is:

USC College of Nursing

Office of Development

1601 Greene St.

Columbia, SC 29208

All gifts, both small and large, will be gratefully received and acknowledged by the College and/or Mr. J. Douglas Davis.

Vaya con Dios.