Derrick Davis

The honorable Derrick Davis Sr was born on November 05, 1964, to Alfreda (Hall) Davis and Malcom Louis Davis Sr. He was a servant of the Gospel, and known to some as elder, but affectionately known as Papa Bear.

Derrick's journey began at Sinai hospital (on Outer Dr near Schaefer). He was later taken to be raised at 15346 Holmer St (cross streets Fenkell and Dexter LOL). He was educated in Detroit public school system and attended Custer Elementary, Longfellow Junior High School, and Central High School. High school holds a very special place in his heart because that is where he met Marlyn McKinney, and two years after graduation they were married on May 25th, 1984.

Derrick received Christ and was filled with the Holy Ghost in January 1983. On November 11, 1983 Derrick enlisted into the United States Army. He was a Tactical Communications System Operator. His first assignment was with the 2nd Battalion 68th Armor Regimen Baumholder, Germany, where he received a certificate of achievement for his participation and execution of Reforge '85- Central Guardian. He later received an achievement medal for General Inspection where his team completed three hundred audits in a 48 hour period. Which required his technical expertise and were commendable in the Company and Battalion success. His second assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery, Ft Sill, Oklahoma where he served as a Senior Communications/Equipment Maintenance Specialist, managed the unit's communication assets, and provided training elements on radio repair. In December of 1990, he answered his nation's call to a full scale post Cold War known as Operation Desert Shield/Storm. And returned to his family safely in April of 1991; later that year he became a Minister. His third assignment led him back to Erlangen, Germany with the 203rd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division where he was assigned as a Unit Level Communications Repairer. His last assignment was with the 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas where he was the Senior Communications Specialist.

n his civilian career, Derrick worked as a crane operator for Learjet in Junction City, Kansas. Later whn he and his family transitioned to Pensacola, FL he worked at AutoZone as Commercial Specialist for he local repair shops in the area. Finally, he joined the Autocare team at Naval Air Station Pensacola as a Service Writer.

Lastly, Minister Derrick Davis joined the Gospel Temple of Pensacola church family on April 19, 2020. Under the leadership of Chief Overseer W.M. Smith where he received his Bachelor of Theology from the Apostolic Bible Teaching Institute on March 15, 2021, under the tutelage of Bishop David Alexander Junior D.D.

Minister Davis was a faithful servant of God. He served as an Associate Minister and an assistant Pastor laboring beside Pastor Dr. Brenda Mitchell. He was the President of the Men's Department, and the assistant Sunday School superintendent of Gospel Temple #1.

He leaves to cherish his memory: loving wife Marlyn Davis; their four children Tiffany Davis, Elaine (Rodriguez) Norris, Derrick Davis II, & Stewart Davis; Two grandchildren; Michael Praylow aka mike mike, Jenaveigha Stares aka Jenny; One sister; Valeria Davis Stepherson; three brothers; Malcolm Louis Davis Jr, Kelvin Davis, & Lionel Davis; five nephews; Johnathan, Anthony, Deion, Kelvin Jr, Jordan; four nieces; Desiree, Lauren, Deanna, &Trina.

Hall Family: Bishop William Hall, Alfreda Hall (2015), Charles Hall (2015), Roosevelt Hall, James Daniel Hall Sr (2018), Juanita Hall, Robert Hall, Susie Hall, Vivian Buchanan, Sarah Hall.

Davis Family: Booker T Davis, Edward Davis, Malcolm Davis (1998), Harry James (~), John Davis "Boochie" (2024), Dorothy Mae Edwards "Aunt Dot" (2017), Patricia King (2018), Ida Mae Campbell, Annette Ziegler, Rosebud Gholston.

And a host of family, lifelong friends, & Gospel Temple 1 & 2 church family.