John Roderick Davis

With great sorrow, we announce the peaceful passing of Roderick from this world to his reward and Savior, Jesus Christ on April 1.

Rod, 86, born 7/15/1936 was a native of Guntersville, AL. He was the first son of John J. Davis and Willie Nixon Davis of Horton, AL. He is survived by his brothers Phil Davis (Jacqueline) of Millsboro, DE and Gayron Davis (Rosemary) of Opelika and numerous nieces and nephews which he dearly loved.

As a graduate of Albertville High, he was later inducted into their "Hall Of Fame." Graduating at Samford, Boston, Yale Divinity School and Columbia Universities, Dr. Davis taught at Rutgers and the City University of New York's John Jay College for 20 years before returning in 1990 to Samford as the dean of Arts & Sciences. As dean, he increased the faculty by one-third and established departments of Classics, Philosophy, Political Science and Geography. Rod guided major core curriculum reform at Samford.

Rod returned to his first love of teaching in 2001 and retired in 2012. He was admired by his students, who often asked him to officiate in their marriages.

Rod was the winner of many teaching and administrative honors, widely published in Twentieth Century English and American literature. He received Presidential appointments to the boards of the Harry S. Truman Foundation and Selma-Montgomery Trail.

Rod enjoyed his roses and gave flowers wherever he visited. He had a generous heart for those less fortunate or oppressed. He wasn't afraid to take a stand to right any wrong. The Cherokee Indians were one of his recent interests.

He loved books, gifted others with them and assembled a large and varied library. Rod began the Davis Lecture Series, which Samford named in his honor. His last effort was writing a biography of Dr. John Allan Wyeth, pioneer of modern education for surgeons; unfinished.



The family would like to praise Rod's Baptist Church of the Covenant, friends and the UAB teams of the 9th floor and Palliative Care Unit who were beyond kind to Rod and us all. His legacy will live in the hearts and minds of his many students.

Rod's celebration of life will be held at 2 PM CDT May 13th at Baptist Church of the Covenant at 2117 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35233 with visitation following.

In lieu of flowers, honors can be made to his beloved church.