Dr. Kimmie Powell Davis

On August 3 2005 at 1:15 a.m. Dr. Kimmie Powell Davis P.H.D. passed from his earthly home to his eternal heavenly home. This world is not our home. Homecoming celebration for Dr. Davis 62 will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday August 8 at Macedonia MB Church with Dr. Arthur David officiating. Bledsoe Funeral Home is in charge. The steps of a good man are ordered by God. Dr. Davis was born in New Brunswick New Jersey Oct. 25 1942 the son of the late James Davis and Carrie Davis. After moving to Jackson he graduated with honors from Merry High School in 1960. He worked at the Jackson Golf and Country Club was a newspaper carrier and humbly delivered groceries for Mr. Brice Nelson's Grocery Store. He met and was loved as a young man by many people. He was a proud member of the Boy Scouts and earned the merit of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Lane College in 1964 and was a Brother of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a member of the N.A.A.C.P. Dr. Davis attended the Schiff University in New Jersey Harvard University Executive Management Institute Moody Bible Institute and Seminary Duke Divinity School and Foothill Theological Seminary. During the 1970's Dr. Davis was former District Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America former Director of Human Relations for American Oil Company former Director of Development for Nicky Cruz Evangelical Association former Personnel Director of Special Projects for the Billy Graham Evangelical Association and former Pastor of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church of Lenoir N. Carolina. Dr. Davis returned to Jackson and started a Minority Business The Sewing Center and Specialty Cleaners. He started the first prayer breakfast and Bible Study at the former Char-Lo's Restaurant and from Bible Study he started and was Senior Pastor of Hope U.M. Church with 13 members which later became Hope Christian Center - a Non-Denominational Church for all people from all backgrounds and moved to the 405 E. College location which is now the Historical Anenas Building with nearly 1000 members on the roll from Jackson and all across West Tenn. and Memphis Tn. He taught the word and administered Hope Christian Center until he was totally physically unable. Pastor Davis was a member of the National Black Evangelical Association World Council of Churches Christian Writers Guild International Council of Community Churches The Jackson Downtown Economic Committee of Jackson Main Street The Cattlemen Association The National Poultry Raisers Association and many others. Awards and Honors include Who's Who in Black Clergy Outstanding Young Men of America Lambuth College Employee's Award Baptist City Wide Youth Minister of the Year Father of the Year 700 Club Christian Leaders Award World Visions Christian Leaders Award in 1972 was selected to appear in Heartland USA an ABC Documentary and in 1985 he and his church were selected by Methodist Communication for a one hour movie entitled 'Images of Hope' portraying his work here in West Tennessee on CNN. Pastor Davis was the Founder of the West Tennessee Afro American Historical Museum planted a Prayer Garden remodeled and opened a Mission House to serve the needy - started along with others what is now known as Area Relief Ministries introduced the First Christian Cotillion for Young Women 13 yrs. to 18 yrs. old created and held the first of many W. Tenn. Ecumenical Celebrations that honored many blacks and their accomplishments in life and West Tennessee and this service was always held in the month of February honoring Dr. M.L. King and Black History. He started the Bootstrap Program that reached out to Destitute Men homeless drug addicts and alcoholics. Pastor Davis reached out to these men and helped them befriended them hired them to do numerous jobs and taught them that they were somebody. P