James Floyd Davis

Obituary "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." II Timothy 4: 6-8 James Floyd (Buck) Davis, Jr., 83, died on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center after an illness. He was born on October 23, 1928 in Trenton, New Jersey, a son of the late James Floyd & Isabella McFarland Davis, Sr. His parents moved the entire family to Dillon, South Carolina when Floyd was 14 years of age. "Floyd," as he was affectionately known to many, continued his education in the public schools of Dillon County. He later graduated from the Dillon Colored High School in 1947. After high school, he attended St. Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina for two years. On May 30, 1953, Floyd was married to the late Jeannette Deborah Crawford Davis and to this union two children were born: their son, Rev. James Floyd Davis III, who is the pastor of Dunn Creek Baptist Church in Ware Shoals, South Carolina and a daughter, Lydia Letitia Davis, a high school counselor in Wilmington, North Carolina. "Floyd" served his country honorably in the United States Army. During this time, he served in both World War II and the Korean conflict. He attained the rank of Corporal. After returning home, he became employed with the Hartsville Manufacturing Plant. He earned a Mechanical Machinist License from Florence Darlington Technical College. Floyd later became employed as Foreman with the Roller Bearing Corporation in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he worked for 25 years. After retiring, he became employed with Hines Funeral Home, managing the Lamar, South Carolina location and counseling at Darlington Memory Gardens. James Floyd Davis, Jr. was a very active member in the community. He worked in many capacities with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for many years. He served as the Treasurer of the South Carolina State Conference of Branches for the NAACP; he was the Regional Coordinator of Region Seven, which consists of Darlington, Chesterfield, Marlboro and Lee Counties; and he was also the President of the Hartsville Branch of the NAACP. Floyd also served on several committees for the City of Hartsville. He was a member of the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce. He was member and Past Master of Myrtle Masonic Lodge, #64 of Hartsville, South Carolina; a member of the Ashland Consistory #246 where he was raised to the level of thirty second degree mason; and he was elevated from there to become a member of the Crescent Temple Shriners Lodge #148 of Florence, South Carolina, where he once served as Treasurer and Secretary. Floyd was raised in a Christian family environment and continued this legacy as a cornerstone member of his beloved Centenary United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. He was Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Chairman of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee for Centenary, Kingsville Charge; a member of the Centenary United Methodist Men and the United Methodist Men Choir; a member of the Centenary Gospel Choir; and the Hartsville District United Methodist Church member of the Board of Church Location and Building. Those who knew and loved him will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his wife, Jeanette Deborah Crawford Davis in 1993, two sisters, Helen Davis Reed and Jessie Eloise Davis, and a brother, Winfred Dwight Davis. Surviving to cherish the loving memory and maintain the legacy of James Floyd Davis, Jr. is his son, Rev. James Floyd "Butch" (Gale) Davis III of Greenville, SC; his daughter, Lydia Letitia "Smoke" Davis of Wilmington, NC; three sisters, Bernice D. (Alexander) Hamer of Washington, DC, Isabella D. Ford and Dr. Ruby Taylor Davis both of Orangeburg, SC; a granddaughter, Ivey E. (Marzell) Underwood of Nashville, TN; special friend, Queen E Tate of Patrick, SC; ten sisters-in-law, Mary Lou M Davis, Erie Bell, Doris Brown, Ella Mae (James) Horton, Marie Brantley, Eleama (Lynn) Graves, Sherby (Willie) Eaddy, Norma (Sammy) Burwick, Joyce Crawford, and Mary Crawford, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other close relatives and very dear friends.