John Darwin Davis Jr.

Services are announced for John Darwin Davis, Jr. who died April 13, 2012, for Monday, April 16, 2012, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Reverend Evan D. Garner officiating. Visitation will be in the library one hour prior to the service.

Mr. Davis was born December 18, 1935, in Decatur to John D. and Bernice Himes Davis. He attended the Gordon School in Decatur and Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, TN, rising to the rank of First Sergeant of his Company and was a member of the Gold Key Society, a forerunner of the National Honor Society at Castle Heights. Mr. Davis was also a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He served in the United States Army in Europe. Upon discharge from the service he joined his father in business, working for State Bonded Warehouse & Storage Co., Madison Bonded Warehouse, Producers Gin and Davis-Hunt Cotton Co. After several years, Mr. Davis served as President and Chairman of each of the companies. While working in the cotton and warehouse industry, Mr. Davis was also active in several associated trade organizations. He was a Board member and served in several capacities in the Alabama Ginners Association, the Alabama Warehouse Association, and the Southeast Atlantic Cotton Warehouse Association. He was an active member of the Cotton Warehouse Association of America beginning in 1976 with his election to the board of directors. In addition to serving five terms as a member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Davis served as Treasurer (1990-91) and (1997-98), Secretary (1981-82) and (2007-08). Mr. Davis was also President of the CWAA in 1983 and Chairman of the Board in 1984. Furthermore, Mr. Davis was a long serving Warehouse delegate to the National Cotton Council.

Mr. Davis was also a long standing member of the Kiwanis Club of Decatur serving on the Board and as President and Chairman. He also served on the board of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. He was actively involved in The Salvation Army in Decatur serving 41 years on the Board of Directors including several terms as its Chairman. Mr. Davis also served as a Board member of the Health Care Authority of Morgan County (Decatur General Hospital Board) from 1985 through 2010 and as its Chairman from 1998 through 2008. For many years he served as a Deacon and an Elder at The First Presbyterian Church in Decatur and taught the Sunday school class for 2 year olds.

Survivors include his wife, Billie Ward Davis; two daughters, Marquis Davis Arnold of Decatur and Himes Davis Fernekes (Tom) of Vestavia; a son, John D. Davis, III (Kim) of Decatur; a sister, Darwin Davis Perkins of Huntsville; and five grandchildren, Ella Darwin Davis, John Darwin Davis IV, Collier Lee Fernekes, Emmett Christian Fernekes and Cassidy Marquis Arnold.

Pallbearers will be John Templeton, Steven Ogle, William Ogle, Mike Gould, Timothy Henderson, Jerry Haynes, Frank Perkins III, Gann Bryan, and John V. Dupes.

Honorary Pallbearers are Robert T. McWhorter, Jr., Dr. Steve Chandler, Trudy McKnight Grisham, Robert Smith and Samuel Thomas Stone.

The family wishes to thank Amy Peck, Joyce Webster, Helen Blake and Jimmy and Amy Buford for their kind and loving attention during Mr. Davis' difficult illness.