Hon. Don Wayne Davis

Don Wayne Davis is dead at the age of 82. Feb 7th, 1943 – Sept. 19th, 2025. A native of Madison County, Florida, he attended the public schools there graduating from Madison High School in 1961. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1965. Subsequently, he joined the US Peace Corps and served for two years in India, following which he entered the Florida State University College of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1969. He served as Staff Director to the Education Committee of the Florida House of Representatives during which time he was admitted to the Florida Bar in May 1970. He was admitted to the Washington D.C. Bar and practiced before the United States Supreme Court in 1979. In a legal career of public service spanning more than 50 years, Don served as County and acting Circuit Judge from 1971 until 1977 in Madison County, Florida. He later was General Counsel of the Florida Department of Commerce and then General Counsel to the Florida Game and Fish Commission. Judge Davis retired in 2008, following 21 years of service as a Florida Administrative Law Judge. He loved the mountains of western North Carolina where he enjoyed writing, painting, hiking, playing golf, and growing vegetables in the church garden near his recreational home at Springdale Golf and Country Club. He once described his service as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in India from 1965-67 as the greatest adventure of his life. While stationed there, he enjoyed mountain climbing in the Himalayan mountains, teaching school in Ludhiana, Punjab, and touring other parts of what he called his "second home country" surpassed only by the United States. He is survived by his loyal wife, Beth, their son, Will (Kate), their daughter McRae (Mehmet) Kaplan, his daughter, Donna (Mike) Ebaugh and his granddaughters, Elliot, Grady, and Cannon Davis and Madison, Annabelle, and Kaitlyn Ebaugh. Don is also survived by his brothers, Earl (Pegeen) and Gary (Trish), devoted brother-in-law Bill (Barbara) Watkins, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at 11:00am Monday September 29th, with a reception to follow in Moor Hall. The family extends their sincere gratitude to Dr. David Powers, Dr. Ruby Williams, Dr. Pareshkumar Patel, Ms. Tempie Miles, and the staff at First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Don's memory to Big Bend Hospice. Breanna Green of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.