BENJAMIN MCMILLIAN "MAC" DAVIS

BENJAMIN MCMILLAN "MAC" DAVIS Benjamin McMillan "Mac" Davis, 91, of Fairhope, AL, passed away on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Mac Davis was born on April 29, 1921 in Oak Grove, Alabama, a small sawmill town located on the M&O railroad in Mobile County, Alabama. Mac was the youngest of three children born to Howard Ellis Davis and Marie McMillan Davis. Mac's father, Howard Ellis Davis, worked as an engineer for Alabama Power Company and later the Tennessee Valley Authority, and as a result, the family moved frequently. Mac attended schools in Alexander City, Alabama, Wetumpka, Alabama, Milledgeville, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, Bay Minette, Alabama, Knoxville, Tennessee and graduated with honors from Chattanooga High School in 1939. He immediately enrolled in Auburn University (Auburn Polytechnic Institute at that time) and became a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. It was through his association with that fraternity that he met his future wife of 47 years, Anna Jean Sherling of Greenville, Alabama. He graduated from Auburn with a degree in engineering in the spring of 1943 and went on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Officer's Candidate School for artillery officers. He graduated from Officers' School with his second lieutenant bar November 4, 1943. That same afternoon, he and Ann Jean Sherling were married in Oklahoma. In December of 1944, Mac shipped overseas where he served three years (1943 - 1946) in the United States Army. He was awarded an air medal for reconnaissance missions he flew into enemy territory in advance of fighter pilots. He was later officer in charge of returning displaced persons (slave labor for the Nazis) to their homelands. He supervised trains from Austria to Czechoslovakia and Poland. One such person, who found that his family in Poland had been annihilated by the Germans, was sponsored by Mac and returned with him to the United States. Mac's family welcomed this young man from Poland and helped him get established in this country. Mac returned from Europe in 1946, and went to work for International Paper Company. During his long and distinguished career with I.P., he and his family lived in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Fairhope, Alabama, York, Alabama, Monroeville, Alabama and from 1966 to 1978 Spanish Fort, Alabama. He was listed in the 1973-74 edition of "Who's Who in America" for his outstanding achievements and stature in his career. Mac remained with International Paper until 1978. At that time, he was recruited by Daniel Ludwig of National Bulk Carriers, to help set up paper mills in Jari, Para, Brazil. He and Anna moved to Jari and resided until 1987. While in Brazil, Mac was responsible for the organization and set up of Harvesting Division for Mr. Ludwig's project. This included the hiring of staff from seven different countries. As director, he developed and trained fifteen hundred employees. He thoroughly enjoyed his work and time spent in Brazil. In 1981, the couple moved back to Spanish Fort, Alabama. On October 27, 1990, Mac's wife of forty-seven years and the mother of his three children, Anna Sherling Davis, passed away. Four years later, in 1994, he married a widow, Willie Earl (Bee) Cooley of Spanish Fort, Alabama. The couple settled in Fairhope, Alabama, and enjoyed eighteen years together before she died July 21, 2012. Mac is survived by his three children, Anna Marie Boulware, (husband Paul), of Dadeville, Alabama; Benjamin McMillan "Mike" Davis, Jr. (wife Eva Lynn) of Stockton, Alabama and Dan Sherling Davis of Robertsdale, Alabama. Survivors also include his grandchildren Paul Judson "Jud" Boulware, Jr. (wife Suzanne) of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Anna Jean "Jeannie" Treilobs (husband Timo) of Opelika, Alabama, His great grandchildren, Emma Suzanne Boulware, Anna Lillian Boulware, Katie McMillan Boulware, Michael Palmer Reynolds and step great grandchild, Ava Treilobs. Stepchildren from his marriage to Bee Cooley include Kay Freeman of Vancleave, Mississippi, Liz Dyer of Gulf Breeze, Florida and Becky Nichols of Summerdale, Alabama. Mac Davis was a strong Christian with an unshakable faith in God. He was an active and supportive member of each of the churches he was affiliated with throughout his life. He was a member of Fairhope Avenue Baptist church at the time of his death. The family would like to thank his doctors and caregivers for the concern and care you have shown throughout his illness, both to him and members of his family. The Brennity of Fairhope provided comfort and support during his last days, and we are so grateful for all you did for him. We so much appreciate the kindness, cooperation, understanding and love the staff at Brennity provided. We regretfully say good bye to a remarkable, southern gentleman who earned his place as a member of the "greatest generation." He had a long and blessed life and his kindness and compassion will be missed by all who knew him. The funeral service will be held Friday, January 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the chapel of Norris Funeral Home with Dr. Hill of Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Bay Minette Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday, January 25, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. service at Norris Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements are by Norris Funeral Home, 402 E. 2nd St., Bay Minette, AL 36507, 251-937-9596. To post online condolences please visit our website at www.norrisfuneralservice.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Opelika-Auburn News.