Joseph Cecil Davis

U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Joseph Cecil Davis (J.C.) passed away Monday August 7, 2023. He is survived by 3 sisters, Barbara McBride, Juanita McLain, and Debra Thornton; by his children, Carol Henderson, Brenda Thompson, Terry Green, Dona Simon, Joseph Allen Davis, Christopher Brian Davis, one Stepson, Dennis Ellington, and 17 grandkids. Joseph is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Warren Davis II; his siblings Susie Davis, James Davis, Raymond Davis, Willis Davis, Stella Davis, and Wanda Moon.

Joseph was born the son of Jessie Edna Gertrude Davis and Thomas Warren Davis in 4 Mile, Mississippi on 07/17/1940. His parents were a homemaker and a sharecropper. Growing up in the Mississippi delta, he learned to play the guitar at an early age alongside his brother, Willis, and would go on to record 3 songs at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee with the likes of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.

In 1958, at the age of 18, instead of pursuing a career in music, Joseph decided to join The United States Marine Corps following his older brothers. He attended boot camp in Paris Island, South Carolina and served his first duty station in San Juan, Puerto Rico as a military policeman, where he would meet his first wife Nancy with whom he would have 7 kids.

Joseph later returned to Paris Island, where he would serve as a U.S. Marine drill instructor for 2 terms. During his career, he served 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. The first tour, with 1st Battalion 4th Marines Division along the DMZ where he participated in 21 combat operations. The second tour, he served as a Military Police Chief at Chu Lai Air Base in Chu Lai, Vietnam.

After returning, Joseph served as a U. S. Marine ROTC instructor at The University of Oklahoma from 1974-1977. Nearing the end of his military career, he was First Sergeant of an engineer company, and lastly, Sergeant Major of an aviation school squadron.

Joseph would go on to finish his Military career in Millington, Tennessee in 1981. After 23 years, he retired a U. S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major, 7 time pistol expert and 10 time rifle expert. He received accolades as high as a presidential citation and from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who offered him the position of Sergeant Major of The Marine Corps.

After a few brief years in Houma, Louisiana, in 1986, Joseph moved to Texas, where he served as an instructor for The U.S. Marine Corps JROTC unit at Round Rock High School. Later, he would meet the love of his life, Joan, also a teacher, whom he married in 1990.

Joseph retired from teaching at Round Rock High School in 2000, spending the rest of his days fishing and with his wife, Joan until her untimely passing 05/12/2022.

Joseph will forever be remembered as a brother, a dad, an uncle, a grandfather, a friend, Joe, Cecil, J.C., or simply, The Sergeant Major.

A visitation for Joseph will be held Friday, August 11, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at

Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

A funeral service will occur Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660. A graveside service will occur Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery, 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660.

Joseph will be laid to rest in Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery , 14501 North Interstate 35, Pflugerville, Texas 78660; Section: O, Lot: 3B, Grave: 3.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Davis family.