Mitchell County Georgia Obituaries Thomas R. Davis 1921 ****************************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ****************************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sam Luckey Oct 2002 Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mitchell.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Obituary of Thomas R. Davis as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 24 Jun 1921. Mitchell county lost a prominent landmark when Mr. Thomas Davis of Hopeful community, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens, passed away at his home on Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. Although enfeebled by his extreme age, Mr. Davis had been in as good health as usual until Monday of last week, when he was stricken with paralysis, the end coming in less than four days after he was stricken. Funeral services were held at Hopeful Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock when an unusually large crowd filled Hopeful church, where the services were conducted by Rev. J. I. D. Miller. After the services in the church the Camilla Lodge F. and A. Masons took charge of the remains, laying them to rest with the honors and ceremonies of the order. Judge I.A. Bush conducted the rites with the assistance of other officers of the lodge. The death of Mr. Davis removes from our midst one of the oldest and most remarkable men of the community. Reared in a family noted for its longevity, Mr. Davis had attained the age of 88 on February 8th last and was well along in his 89th year when death closed his long and worthy career on earth. He was born in Burke county, where he spent his childhood and early young manhood, moving to this county, which was then a part of Baker county, a short time before the beginning of the Civil War. In l861 he enlisted in General Wheeler's Cavalry and went through the four years of the war, giving the bravest and best service to the Confederacy that was in his young life to give. He served as a Sergeant of his company and went through the entire war without being wounded a single time. Few families have the honor and distinction that the Davis family had, giving nine sons to the Confederacy, all of whom were in the war at one time. Only one of these, Mr. D. B. Davis is now left. Mr. Davis was married on January l, l858 to Miss Safronia Parker, of North Carolina. To this union were born three children, the oldest of whom, Mr. Charles Davis, died twenty years ago leaving a wife and six children, Messrs. Herschel, Ferman, Ivey, Ralph and Wheeler Davis and Mrs. Charlie Mae Willis. Mrs. Safronia Davis also preceded her husband to the grave many years ago. The deceased was married the second time to his wife who now survives him. With the same patriotic and unselfish spirit as that was his during the struggle of the sixties, he lived and served his family, his community and county through a long number of years. In early manhood he became a Christian and joined the Baptist church, of which he was a member for more than a half century. He held the distinction of being one of the oldest Masons in the county, having been one of the charter members when the lodge was organized more than forty years ago. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife and two children, Mr. William B. Davis of Florida and Mrs. Maggie Willis, of Bainbridge. Besides these are twelve grandchildren and several great grandchildren. He leaves one brother, Mr. D. B. Davis, and one sister, Mrs. Frances B Davis. Besides an unusually large family connection, the deceased leaves hundreds of friends throughout the county and this section of the state, who are deeply grieved by his death and extend sympathy to the bereaved family.