Odia Lee Davis

Mr. Odia “Otis” Davis was born in Bel-Air, Maryland in 1944, but as a young child his family moved back to the South to South Carolina, where he spent his early years. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1964. While there he was a star football player and Captain of the team. After high school, ‘Otis” as he was affectionately called, joined the United States Marine Corps. During his military service , he served two tours in Vietnam and volunteered to fight in the Conflict of Santo Domingo, were he received his first of many Combat Medals. He was also activated for service through the National Guard for Desert Storm in 1990. Otis also served 23 years in the South Carolina National Guard with the Florence Military Police Unit and in Kingstree Transportation Unit and played on a Semi Pro Football team. He retired from the military with the rank of E7.

On September 4, 1965, Otis married Libby “Aunt Jean” Jean Echols and they were blessed with  three sons and nine grandchildren. In Otis’ life, he has been a Welder for Vulcraft Corporation, obtained an Associate Degree in Auto and Diesel Mechanic and worked as such, but his passion in life was trucking. Otis has owned trucks, had employees in his trucking business for over 30 years and always kept his longing for the open road. Over his long and busy life busy life Otis was 3rd Master Mason Snow Hill Masonic Lodge #387; Deacon in three churches, Saint Jude Apostolic Church of Florence, South Carolina, Greater Highway Church of Christ of Marion, South Carolina and was currently a member of  Victory Temple Apostolic Church of Florence, South Carolina; Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter of Darlington, South Carolina; and was crucial with obtaining funding for a new facility built for them, where he helped   countless disabled vets receive the benefits they truly deserved. Otis was also, featured in the Florence Morning Newspaper for helping to distribute food to the needy in the Florence area in conjunction with Harvest Hope Food Bank, employed with Smith Funeral Home of Florence, LLC putting up tents, transporting families during funerals and other operations to aid Home Going Services for families in the community.

Otis only had three biological sons, but he was a surrogate father for many children in the neighborhood that became family and extended family. He taught them many life lessons taking them on their 1st fishing trips, teaching them how to roast wieners and marshmallows on a stick at his world-famous Christmas event as he  cooked hogs  and barbecued or when their cars broke down and needed help. There are many men and women in here today whose lives trajectory has been changed for the better from what "Mr. Otis", Uncle Otis", or "Deacon Davis" has told them or showed them throughout their lives.

Otis is preceded in death by his father, Miller Davis, mother, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Hammonds Davis; brothers, Willie (Dove) Davis, Miller (Peezay) Davis, Jr.; his three brothers also loved the open road and trucking names and CB call signs: James (Red Man) Davis, Loomis (Grizzly Bear) Davis, and Dwight Benton (Boss Hog) Davis, Sr.

Otis leaves behind: his loving wife, Libby Jean Echols Davis, eldest son, Sidney Lee “Blood” (Tonia Rogers) Davis, middle son and namesake, Otis Lee, lI “Tench.. Teense..Tinichy”  (Tamegia Green) Davis and baby boy Rodney Lee“Booty... Puggy Buddy...Bee Wee” (Sabrina Gilchrist) Davis; special nephew, Armando Echols; grandsons, Devin Davis, Kaleb “Bubu Wubu” Davis, and Tyree “TyMich” Davis; granddaughters, Ebony “Ebo” Davis, Treasure Davis, Keyanna ”Key-Wana” Davis, Destany Davis and Trinity “Trina-rina” Davis; great grandchildren, Kira Davis, Cree Benton Bobbitt Davis, and Nylah Davis; sisters-in-law, Diane Gee Davis, wife of Dwight Benton Davis, Sr., Alliree Benjamin Davis wife of Willie Davis, Ruth Davis wife of Miller Davis, Jr., Carrie Mae Echols, and Joyce Gibson; brother-in-law James Echols, Jr.; one aunt: Agnes Hammonds Jones; and a host of countless friends and extended family.

Please keep the family of Odia Lee "Otis" Davis in your thoughts and prayers.