Requim for Dr. Thomas J. Davis, Sr., Tuesday, April 16, 1974, 12 Noon, Saint Mark A.M.E. Church, 491 Chestnut Street, Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30318, Reverend P.W. Williams, Pastor

REQUIEM - FOR-
l)r. 11Choma.s j. l)a\li.s, ~r.
Tuesday. April 16. 1974
12 NOON
Saint Mark A.M. E. Church
491 Chestnut Street, Northwest Atlanta, Georgia 30318 ---0:...---
Reverend P. W. Williams, Pastor

"TIS LIFE BEYOND''
I watched a sail until it dropped from sight Over the rounding sea - a gleam of light, A last far-flashed farewell, and, like a thought Slept out of mind, it vanished and was not.
Yet, to the helmsman standing at the wheel, Broad seas still swept beneath the gliding keel, Disaster? change? He left no slightest sign, Nor dreamed he of that dim horizon line.
So may it be, perchance, when down the tide Our dear ones vanish. Peacefully they glide On level seas, nor mark the unlmown bound, We call it death-to them 'tis life beyond.
Author Unknown


OBITUARY
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THOMAS JETHRO DAVIS, SR. was born into African Methodism in Coleman, Ga., December 16, 1387-the first child of Rev. Isaac Daniel Davis and Mary Alice Thompson Davis. Educated in the public school of Pelham, Ga. and at Howard Normal School of Cuthbert, Ga., he ,gtraduated in 1908 from Morris Brown College, Atlanta, with the A.B. degree. In 1913, he received the M.D. from Meharry Medical: College, Nashville, Te-nn., graduating with the second highest student record in his class. Turner Theological Seminary awraded him its B.D. de.fJree in 1923. Bishop J. S. Flipper ordained him deacon in 1926 and Bishop W. A. Fountain ordained him elder in 1928.
Dr. Davis divided the half century of his professional services equally between the practice of medicine and the commitment to ihe ministry, often using one skill to support the other. As an ardent organizer and crusader for causes, Dr. Davis gave unstintingly of his time: talents, en ergy and income to four major concerns: higher education for black youth of Georgia, particularly through the auspices of the A.M.E. Church; the delivery of quality health services to black communities: af Georgia; the improvement of civil and social opportunities for black people, and the strengthening of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a spiritual and mor al force in the U.S.A. and in Mica. In promotion of these causes, he served from 1923 to 1944 as a trustee of Morris Brown College; as secretary of the Georgia State Association of Medical Men for three years and as secretary of the South Atlanta Medical Society for four years-in an era when black medical men had n o access to the A.M.A.-and as city physiclan for indig~ent black patients of Savannah for five years; as secretary otf the Georgia State Convention of the Elks and as a National officer of the Knights of Pythias and of the Masons. His impact on black youth und on black community life was particularly significant in cities in Georgia where he practiced and preached: Atlanta, Savannah, M.acon, Americus, WCi!ycross; howev er, h i:> w ork in the rural areas of Georgia as a Presiding Elder of the Sixth Episcopal Di.strict took him into the lives of people oft en untouch~d b y the
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social and civil benefits available to city blacks. For aggressive action on the civic front, he escaped lynching twice in the 1920's through the aid of liberal whites who warned him and helped him escape mob action. He served on inter-racial committiees, was active in the N.A.A.C.P., organized the laymen of the West Atlanta District and was director of the Women's Evan~lism and Missionary efforts for the A.M.E.'s in Georgia under Bishop R. R. Vlright, Jr. he served as commissioner of Education for the Emergency Drive to save Morris. Brown College. He as treasurer of the Atlanta Georgia Conference and co-treasurer with his friend and coHeague, the late Dr. Richard Billings, for the Sixth Episcopal District under Bishop Wilkes.
The fraternal, profess.i.onal, civic, religious and medical activities and affliations of Dr. Davis are too numerous to list. It is, however worthy to note that he prized the President's Award for 50 years of medical service from Meharry Medical College in 1963. Equally a source of genuine pride to him was the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws accorded to him in Monrovia, Liberia by the A.M.E.'s of Monrovia College under Bishop Hatcher.
To every task he accepted, he brought great dynamism, interped leadership, unusual commitment and singular determination. - He attain~d local, state, national and international recognition as a man of many talents. These were aptly described by the late Rev. J. R. Hurley and in 1967 testimonial when he called Dr. Davis a "Powerful Preacher, outstanding Physician, Gentleman Farmer, Philanthropist, Educator, Church Builder, Civic Worker, Humanitarian and World Traveller."
He was married in 1916 to the late Lovella Helen Mayberry of Nashville, Tenn. Of that union were born three offsprings: the late Dr. Thomas J. Davis, .Jr., the late Joan Davis Collier and Dr. Marie Davis Gadsden of Washington D. C. He is survived by his devoted wife of twenty-two years, Catherine Ivory Davis of Atlanta. As immediate family, he leaves to mourn him a loving mother-in-law, Mrs. Minnie Ivory and her entire family, a loyal son-in-law, Robert W. Gadsden, Jr. and his family, a proud daughter-in-law, Patricia Allen Davis, three grandsons--:-Walter Collier, Jr. of St. Louis, Mark and Blake Davis of Columbus, Ohio and three grand-daughters-Joan, Syrie and Elizabeth Davis of Columbus. A host of devoted relatives, colleagues and friends too numerous to record here share the family loss.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Rev. Preston W. Williams, Presiding

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Organ Prelude -

ProcessionalHymn___________________No. 466, There Is A Land of Pure Delight Prayer____~-----------------------------------Dr. W. L. Scarborugh
Presiding Elder, North Atlanta District Old Testament Scripture_______________.Rev. J. T. Robinson New Testament_____ ___________________ .Rev. C. L. Sanders

Solo------~---.--------------------Rev. M. L. Hood
Tributes (Twb Minutes)-
Dr. W. Wiggs______Fresiding Elder, West Atlanta District Dr. J. A. Middleton-
Board Member, Atlanta Public Schools Dr. S. H. Giles_Dean Emertious, Turner Theo. Seminary Dr. J. R. Coan______Frofessor, Turner Theo. Seminary Rev. T. J. FlanaganMr. T. R. Weatherall-
President, Laymen Organization W. Atlanta Dist.
Hymn_________________________No. 577,0 They Tell Me of A Home

Tributes (T\VO Minutes)-

Dr. J. Palmer Mr. R. 0. Sutton Rev. T. R. Morgan Mr. Ross Wilson

Rev. W. R. Wilkes, Jr. Bishop E. L. Hickman Bishop F. D. Jordan

Solo_______,_____________ _Mrs. ""7""__________________________________ Lois Bryant

Singing Evanglist, The Sixth -Episcopal Distric,..t, Eulogy__________________________Bishop Richard Allen Hilderbril!ld .
Bishop, The Sixth Episcopal D~

Acknowledgements____________________________Dr. George A. s~:w..eU

Faculty Member, Alcorn College, Vicksburg, M.lss.

Benediction_____________________________________________.Dr. W. D. J ohnsW:

Recessional-

r Editor,

The A.M.E.

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. ACTIVE PALLBEARERS Stewards and Trustees of Saint Mark A.M.E. Church
HONORARY PALLBEARERS A.M.E. Ministers Union of The Sixth Episcopal District
Members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity FLOWER BEARERS
.Members of the 1\..M.E. Ministers Wives Alliance .HONORARY FLOWER BEARERS
StewardeSses of Saint Mark A.M.E. Church
. Inte:rme:p.t - Carver Memorial Cemetery
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The family of Dr. T. J. Davis, Sr. gratefully acknoWIledges the numerous expressions of sympathy during his illness and passing.
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Murdaugh Morticians - In Charge