Johnnie Davis

Born on January 12, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Joanna Davis. Johnnie spent his early years in New Orleans with his mother and his grandmother. He graduated from Walter L. Cohen Senior High School in 1962. He was drafted into the Army in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. Boot camp was at Fort Polk, Louisiana with advanced training school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His career in the Army was in Artillery. Johnnie was stationed at Ft. Hood after his advanced training school with the 1st Battalion and 14th Field Artillery Regiment. He traveled to Germany twice for temporary duty while at Ft. Hood completing artillery assignments. His army service ended in 1964. He transferred to the Army Reserves.

Johnnie served in the Army Reserves for 29 years from 1962-1991. His last reserve location was in Waco, Texas with an E8 First Master Sergeant ranking. The focus was Artillery at first then Heavy Equipment. The unit traveled to Honduras to build water tanks, buildings, and roads. In Belize, the unit built churches, and roads.

Johnnie’s career away from the reserves was a police officer. His career started in 1969 at the Temple Police Department then to Gatesville, and Copperas Cove Police Department. He retired from the Temple VA Hospital in 2010 with 32 years of service. Johnnie expressed multiple times at the state veterans home that he loved being a police officer.

Photography was a passion for Johnnie. Every place he traveled or worked; he was taking pictures. Many of his pictures were enlarged and framed. His room at William R. Courtney was full of photos. Staff and other residents were always talking to him about his wonderful pictures and adventures. He enjoyed watching the New Orleans Saints play football with his family on Sunday’s eating red beans and rice.

Johnnie’s memory will remain in the hearts of his family, friends, and all those who were honored to have had the privilege to know him.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marcella Davis: daughter Penny Jones; stepdaughter Kim Bracey; grand-daughter KayLae’ Henderson, and great-grandchildren.

Thank you to the staff at William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home for taking care of him and assisting the family.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2025, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Committal Service will occur at Bellwood Memorial Park in Temple.