Service Announcements

Mr. Francis Davis 90 of  Matthews, NC. passed away Wednesday November 30 ,2016 at Carrington Places Nursing Center Matthews,NC. Funeral service will be held Friday December 9, 2016 at Weeping Willow AME Zion Church 2220 Milton Rd. Charlotte ,NC 28215. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am and the service will follow at 12:00 pm.  Interment with military rites will be conducted at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.

Francis Davis was born on March 23, 1926, in Lanes, Williamsburg County, South Carolina. On November 30, 2016 with his wife and three daughter by his side, Francis went to join our Heavenly Father.   He lived 90 wonderful years.  His parents were the late Collin Davis, Sr. and Ella Wisdom Davis.  Francis was one of 9 children which all preceded him in death.  He was also preceded in death by two sweet grandchildren William Fitzgerald Harrell and Blair Davis Blacknall and one great grandchild, Justin McCain.

Francis accepted Christ an early age and became a member of St James AME Church in Lanes, South Carolina. During his teen years he stayed active in his church by participating in many activities.  When not working on the family farm, Francis traveled with the church all across South Carolina singing and praising The Lord.  With his grandfather being a minister, Francis had a great spiritual influence.

In 1944 he joined the United States Navy.  He found a love for cooking in the military and became Chief Cook for the officer’s quarters.  He received many honors. His honors included National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Koran Service Medal, United States Service Medal, China Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Occupation Service Medal Clasp from Europe, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, and the American Campaign Medal.   During his Navy career he served on over 12 service vessels and stations.  After retiring from the navy with 23 years of service he continued to sail the seas as a merchant seaman for an additional eight years.

During Francis’ first years in the Navy, he visited home as much as possible.  While visiting, he kept his eye on a lovely young lady on the high school basketball team.  In 1950 Francis was united in marriage with Inez Elizabeth McCray, who he had admired for so long. This was the beginning of what some would call a storybook romance.  Francis loved his wife dearly and referred to her as “honey bun.”  She called him “Davis.”  Francis would often reflect on how he and Inez would say their prayers with each other over the phones whenever he got the opportunity to call home from a navy port.  There loved for each other was visible through their entire marriage.   They attributed the success of such a beautiful and long marriage to keeping God first.

During the 66 years of marriage, Francis and his wife Inez raised three daughters but were not limited to just them.  His grandchildren and great grandchildren were under his wing also. They referred to him as “Poppa” or “Papa”.   Family was very important to Francis.  He was influential in many of the lives of his nieces and nephews.  Due to their welcoming and loving hearts, many relatives lived with the Davis’ at some point during their lives.  Francis had an impeccable love for others.  He served as a father figure to many friends in which many of them called him “Poppa D”, Mr. D”, or “Pop.” He was always willing to extend a helping hand.

Francis expressed his love for others many times through creating delicious meals for them.  He enjoyed cooking during the holidays.  He was known in his family for the wonderful dressing he prepared at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  One item that he cooked well and wanted every day was rice.  He referred to it as “swamp seeds.”  If he ever sat down at home for dinner and did not see rice on the table, he would ask “where’s the swamp seeds?”  He prepared foods for many specials occasions.  He catered the food for two of his daughters’ weddings.

Upon arriving in Charlotte, North Carolina, Francis continued to expand his work life.  These new jobs and professions included working as painter with Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, roofing, house painting and building security officer at the Johnston Building in downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.  Francis never set by idly, many of the aforementioned jobs were performed at the same time.

Francis’ life was secured by three anchors, God, family and hard work.  A church member at every duty station with his final and devoted membership at Weeping Willow AME Zion.  Francis was a faithful servant at Weeping Willow AME Zion.  Serving on the Board of Trustees, singing in the choir, sharing his gift of cooking and supporting all efforts of the church.  He prepared many beautiful dishes for church activities.  His most favorite event was the annual calendar tea at the old Weeping Willow AME Zion Church on Billingsley Road where he got to design and create many edible items for others to enjoy.

Francis was a multi-talented man with an enormous amount of energy.  Francis could do and fix almost anything.  If he did not fix it, Francis could definitely “rig” it.  He was also known as being the family “jokester.”  He always had something funny to say or did something that was comical to others.  Most of his family, near and far, can remember a story or incident with Francis that was funny and became a legendary family story.   He used quotes and old sayings with his family to make them laugh. He also provided his family and friends with advice from past experiences to serve as life lessons.  Francis was a “napper” also.  He stayed so busy, that whenever he sat still for a long period of time, he would dose off to sleep.  If you caught him sleeping and asked him about it, he would say “I’m just resting his eyes.”

As Francis aged and his health began to decline, the anchors of his life remained the same, God, family and work.  God continued to be first in his life even in the midst of his physical struggles.  The love for Inez and family was continuous through thought and deed.  Even in his most fragile physical state, Francis Davis was looking for a job.  Francis was a true believer in the fact that men were to support their family through work.  It is a rare feat for a person to maintain their core beliefs for a lifetime.  Francis would assure us that this was accomplished only because he was bound up in the arms of the Lord, loved by his family and solidified with his works.

Francis leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife Inez McCray Davis, daughters Diannie Springs and Conell Harrell both of Charlotte, NC and Patricia Blacknall(Rodney) of Wesley Chapel, NC, his grandchildren Karen MCain of Chesapeake, VA, Kesha Silver(Kalsey) of Yorktown, VA, Quintin Jones (Tasha) of Sanford, NC, Nikale Davis of Charlotte, NC, Rondall Harrell, II of Springfield, VA, Matthew Harrell of Cheasapeake, VA, Trace’ Springs of Charlotte, NC and Landon Blacknall of Wesley Springs, NC; great grandchildren are Jaquilla Hawkins, Kezala Manning (Alexis), Marcellus Jones, Kristina Jones, Tyshon Lee, Quintin Amire Jones, Sergio Gardner, Dorian Wright, Kimbrie Silver, Kadin Silver, Tatianah Jones, Liam Wright, and Matthew Harrell Jr, ; two great-great grandchildren, Alexis Manning, Jr. and Jaquay Hawkins; two sisters-in-law Clara Davis of Buffalo, NY, and Pearl Davenport of Charlotte, NC; one brother-in-law Festus McCray, Jr. of Salters, SC;  oldest niece; Naomi Harris of Philadelphia and oldest nephew; Bryant McCray of Buffalo, NY and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and friends.