Willie Lee Davis Jr.

Willie Lee Davis, Jr. was born March 15, 1940, in Norphlet, Arkansas, to Willie Lee Davis, Sr. and Mattie Lee Thompson Davis. He was the sixth child of thirteen children. Willie Jr. was called "Junior" by family members and everyone else who knew him.

Willie Jr. grew up in a strict Christian home. He and his entire family attended prayer meeting (as it was called at that time) every Wednesday night. The family walked through the forest (woods) to the church, where his family and one elderly woman were the only people present.

Willie Jr. joined Providence Baptist Church, located on the Smackover Highway, at an early age. It was commonly understood that when a child reached the age of twelve or thirteen, he or she would automatically join the church. Willie was baptized in a lake, wearing a white sheet, as was the custom.

Junior attended Smith Elementary and High School in Norphlet, Arkansas-the only school in town for Black children. After graduating from high school, he attended Arkansas A.M. & N. College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), where he received a BA degree in Social Studies in 1963.

Willie and Ruthell Thrower were high school and college sweethearts. They were married in 1962, and one child, Michael R. Davis, was born from this union.

In a second marriage, Willie L. Davis, Jr. and Shirley Arnold Davis were joined in holy matrimony. Four children-one daughter and three sons-were born to this union. They moved from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to East St. Louis, Illinois, where Willie taught History to high school students at East St. Louis High School for 39 years. Willie served as chairman of the Social Studies and Black Studies Department. He also earned a Master's degree in World History. While in East St. Louis, Willie served as a deacon at Macedonia Baptist Church.

In 1992, Willie and Ruthell Thrower Ferrell were reunited in matrimony in Compton, California, at Tammerand Seventh-day Adventist Church. While in Compton, Willie taught high school at Dominguez Senior High Alternative School. Later, they relocated to East St. Louis, Illinois, and then to El Dorado, Arkansas. Willie joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church located in Camden, Arkansas.

Willie L. Davis, Jr. was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthell Thrower Ferrell Davis; his former wife, Shirley Arnold Davis; two children, Jacqueline Davis Scott and Ricardo Davis; and one grandson, Cedric Gooden.

Five children survive him: Michael R. Davis (Jeneen); Romero Davis; and Christopher Davis (Natasha), Lorraine Ferrell-Honeycutt (Robert) of Bentonville, Arkansas, and Christopher Ferrell of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by four sisters: Betty Davis Washington, Maude Davis King (Fred), Doris Davis Hayes, and Carolyn Davis Gates (Glen); one brother, Otis Wayne Davis; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Willie was fortunate to have a special niece, Sharron Hicks, who served as his long-time caregiver. For years, she spent countless days and weeks with him in doctors' offices and hospitals in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, and El Dorado. She was with him twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Our family gives thanks to God for her long-time support and care for our loved one, Willie Lee Davis, Jr. We love you, Sharron. We can never thank you enough.