Hardin Davis Yeuell

The Rev. Dr. H. Davis Yeuell (95) passed away on 22 November 2025 at The Hermitage in Richmond, Virginia.

Davis was born on 9 November 1930 to Gladstone and Helen Eugenia "Jean" Yeuell in Tuscaloosa, AL where his father was a professor at the University of Alabama (UA). Davis graduated in History from UA in 1950 followed by a Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA in 1954. Later in life he also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.

From an early age Davis's life and work were marked by a calling to seek justice, peace, and reconciliation for the voiceless and oppressed. As President of the Presbyterian General Assembly's Youth Council, he played a pivotal role in integrating Montreat Conference Center youth conferences in 1948/1949. During the early years of the Civil Rights Movement, he was pressured out of his first pastorate in Montevallo, AL after preaching a sermon entitled "The Gospel and Race." From there he joined the religion faculty of HBCU Stillman College in Tuscaloosa where he supported and defended protesting students. He also led the move to integrate 1st Presbyterian Church, Tuscaloosa as recorded in the book, Southern White Ministers and the Civil Rights Movement. His service at Stillman ended in 1963 after relentless KKK threats required that his daughter, Eugenia, be escorted to and from school by police. The denomination then helped him move to Richmond, VA to serve as Associate Director of Campus Christian Life, followed by a stint as Senior Editor of John Knox Press. In Richmond he continued his active involvement in Civil Rights including participation in the Poor People's March and attendance at Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech on the Washington Mall.

Davis's calling and commitments also led him to pursue interfaith dialogue as a means to effectively address justice issues, to advocate for the people of Appalachia, and to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. As Executive of the Synod of the Virginias from 1974 -1988 he co-founded the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. He also supported the work of the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry. His book, Moving Mountains: A History of Presbyterian and Reformed Faith at Work in Appalachia, was published as a part of that effort.

In 1953 Davis married Carolyn Junker Yeuell. They had four children together, Eugenia, Grace, Hardin, and Douglas. After Carolyn's death in 1998 Davis married Louisa Sager Sheets. He is survived by his four children, and their families including four grandchildren and three great grandchildren as well as Louisa's two daughters, Cynthia and Amanda and their families.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm on Monday 12 January 2026 at Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond.