MARTIS DAVIS Obituary

DAVIS Martis Davis "Marty" (1944-2018) Martis Davis was a pioneer in public relations and communications and an educator. A Washington DC resident for over 30 years, Martis served as principal of Duke Ellington School of Arts from 1989 to 1993 during which time the school earned multiple National Blue Ribbon School awards. He also instituted the Shepherding Program for new students, a tradition that continues today. But becoming a high school principal happened years after stellar achievements in the corporate and public service world. Coming of age during the height of the Civil Rights era, Martis was the first black man to do many things. He was the first black high school teacher at Woodrow Wilson high school in Washington, DC. His childhood friends recalled him as the only black kid in honor classes where he excelled in all subjects. He directed and produced many grade school events. He was the first black elected student government president in high school. Martis said that no one in his generation "aspired' to work in PR or media because it was largely racially segregated. The idea was planted in his mind after viewing actor Gregory Peck in a 1950s film called "The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit.' He claimed that he "wound-up' in public relations when the field itself was fairly new. His career spanned public education, public affairs, public policy, public health, marketing communications, crisis management, and advertising. His wide-ranging professional work included senior stints in public relations at the Washington Post, UniWorld Group, Inc., AT&T, Burson-Marsteller, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and ARRP. He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Clinton administration. Martis was also PR director at the Washington Post during the Watergate era. His claim to fame was learning his craft from Ofield Dukes, known in DC as the black dean of public relations. A post at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies led to a career breakthrough. Martis' first major campaign was to organize and direct the global press coverage of the historic National Black Political Assembly (NBPA) held in Gary, Indiana in 1972. Working in coordination with UniWorld, Inc. (UWG), the nation's oldest black advertising agency, this landmark event attracted 8000 Black delegates, including radical nationalists like the Black Panthers and moderate integrationists, such as the nation's first black elected officials and nearly 900 global media outlets. The successful NBPA results led to Martis' employment at UniWorld, Inc., as executive vice president of public relations and a plum assignment promoting PBS film "This Far By Faith,' an AT&T sponsored national TV special. Known for his dapper style, gentle manner and wry humor, Martis leaves a legacy of excellence and community service. During retirement he was a Commissioner at ANC Adams Morgan community. He collected turkeys for the homeless at Thanksgiving for Central Union Mission. He credited his success to a strict mother and disciplined home training. Martis was known for and often teased about his superior home skills such as cooking, cleaning, ironing, and fastidious housekeeping. He also credited his mentors and believed that is what today's youth truly need. Martis mentored many young people throughout his life. He devoted his last years to mentoring youth at DC's Global Harmony through Personal Excellence reviewing their essays and providing Christmas gifts. Martis possessed an intense work ethic and ran his own consulting firm, Davis & Company. History remained a lifelong hobby, especially World War II books, museum exhibits and puzzles. Martis was born in Atlanta, GA to Juanita Turner, a social worker and Martis Toussaint Davis, a jazz musician on January 25, 1944. Martis died on January 9, 2018 at home from complications related to pancreatic cancer. He graduated from Gorton High School, Yonkers, NY. He earned a Bachelor's degree in history from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1966 and a Master's degree in 1975. He continued studies at his alma mater and at Oxford in England. Martis is survived by his Beloved Partner Sloan Rogers, her twin sister Raina Sloan; Sloan's sons Stephen Nease, his wife Kim and Richard Nease; and stepchildren, Chelsie King Garza, her husband Adam Blankenship, and Gabren King, his wife Loni and seven step grandchildren. Martis was cremated. He requested that no funeral or memorials be held on his behalf. As Martis always said: "Eeeezy!" Martis was cremated. He requested that no funeral or memorials be held on his behalf. As Martis always said: "Eeeezy!"

Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 28, 2018.
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Martis III - born January 25

Joyce

Friend

September 20, 2023

I was fortunate to work with Marty at AARP for several years. He was a great person and a great mentor to me. Our legacy is the people whose lives we make better, and Marty did that for me and I'm sure many, many others.

Mark Beach

Work

December 13, 2021

I miss him. Already 3 years we lost a wonderful man. Time flies but memories remain. Thank you Marty!

Benedicte Aubrun

Neighbor

January 24, 2021

Fantastic guy, was my football coach, mentor, and teacher. Will never forget old marty, always a place in my heart for my old coach.

william johnson

January 22, 2021

I only wish that I knew he was less than an hour away. It would have been so nice to meet up again. What a stand out person he was, even in H.S.,always surrounded by friends, always a smile foe everyone. Anniversaries are always difficult for those who loved him.
May his family and dear friends think of all the good times and wonderful memories he left for you to treasure.

Rose Marie Carnes

Classmate

January 22, 2021

My close friend and mentor. Even though we were not geographically close, loved him like a brother !!!! S And managed to touchh base with him several times each year. Shocked that he is gone.
Gorton High School Class of 1962

andrea hall

Friend

January 11, 2021

Smartest person I ever knew. Became one of my best friends. He will always be missed.

winslow jeffries

Friend

December 1, 2019

Adams Morgan friends, commissioners, activists and residents are gathering at 6pm on Sunday February 11 at Meze Restaurant 2437 18 St NW, Washington, DC 20009 in memory of Marty. He is deeply missed. What a great and fair man!

Benedicte Aubrun

February 10, 2018

Mentor, coach, and friend. I will miss his humor as well as his good advice. I'm so sorry he's gone.

Mary O'Donnell

February 8, 2018

A dear and cherished friend has left this planet. Brilliant, charming, caring, amusing, and a major force who entered a room, and was immediately surrounded. You will always be remembered, and missed.

Joan M Greene

February 6, 2018

Martis was one of the finest humans to grace this planet. No one can ever fill the space he leaves.

He will be greatly missed.

Ljuba Marsh (Belchertown, MA)

Ljuba Marsh

February 6, 2018

Martis was a remarkable classmate at Gorton HS. Rest in Peace

Barbara D'Anna (Cody)

January 30, 2018

What a remarkable man who made a good name for himself. May Almighty God bless and comfort the Davis family in this time of missing their beloved one.

January 30, 2018

January 30, 2018

Truly one in a million! I considered Marty a dear friend as many did. He was one of the funniest, biggest heart and brilliant man I was blessed to know. You will be missed. My deepest sympathies to family and friends.

Barbara Foelber

January 30, 2018

phyllis wasserman-hartman

January 30, 2018

Although I didn't know him other than from GHS He was a friend and I admired him and his cousin and was hoping to meet up at the reunion but it was not to be. My condolences to all of his family

Ellen Conner Brown

January 30, 2018

Even in high school, it was clear that Martis was special. He had a winning personality and was liked by everyone. He was an unforgettable person, even after more than 50 years, I can still see him always surrounded by friends in the halls of Gorton HS.
I regret that I never knew he only lived half an hour from me. It would've been wonderful to spend time with him.
He had a life well lived
Rest In Peace

January 29, 2018

Rose Marie Mercurio-Carnes

January 29, 2018

Mot and I grew up like brothers, we attended the same grade school, jr high and high school together. We stayed in contact throughout the years and especially during baseball season, we were diehard Yankee fans. We would talk baseball and reminisce about growing up in Yonkers.
I will truly miss my friend and brother.

Doug (Tobin) Stroud

January 29, 2018

Martis is greatly missed. We went to Charles E Gorton High School in Yonkers, New York and graduated in 1962. I worked with him on the reunion video. He was one great guy and loved by everyone.

Joel Klein

January 29, 2018

Was a laughing friend.

Frank Geiger

January 29, 2018

Marty was my teacher and football coach at woodrow wilson high in 1969. He was a fantastic person. All of the students loved marty. he mentored me and several of my friends. He was always very honest and told it like it was. Marty we will miss you old buddy, you did a wonderfull job at being a human being.

bill johnson

January 29, 2018

Always good to meet Marty in the building or strolling the neighborhood. People of his character live on forever.

Graham Scott

January 29, 2018

In my earlier entry I gave the wrong years that we met. It was the 1964-65 academic year.

Ed Raines

January 28, 2018

I met Marty when we were juniors at Southern Illinois University during the 1960-61 academic year. He had a gorgeous smile, a wry and understated sense of humor; energy that appeared to be coming out of his pores, a tremendous ability to multi-task before anyone even invented the term, and a really fine mind. We became friends at a time when friendships across racial barriers were becoming more and more fraught and yet ours has lasted all these years. I knew he was dead, but when I read his death notice I still teared up. I have lost a great friend and the world a wonderful person. I will miss him every day until the day I die.

Ed Raines

January 28, 2018

Martis

January 28, 2018

Marty will always be fondly remembered by me and countless others from Duke Ellington School of the Arts in particular. He was aces!

Lew Berry

January 28, 2018

May the God of all comfort strengthen the family during this time of deep sorrow. Those who pass on, God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. My sincerest condolences. (Psalms 116:15)

January 28, 2018

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