James L. Davis Jr. was born on October 27, 1931 in Rome, Mississippi to the late James Davis Sr. and Lucille Sanders. He
was the oldest child born of 12 children of James Davis Sr., seven brothers and five sisters; He also had five stepsiblings from
his father's second marriage to Ocia Bell Riley Davis. Growing up in a big family, it was never a dull moment.
At an early age he confessed a hope in Christ as his Lord and Savior; he later joined the New Bethel Missionary Baptist
Church. He served faithfully for many years as Chairman of the Deacon Board and many other capacities in the church, until
he retired.
As a young man, James enlisted in the U.S. Army, on November 25, 1952, serving in the Korean War. He received his
training at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Before his honorable discharge, he received many honors: a Korean Service Medal, a Bronze
Service Star, a United Nations Service Medal, a National Defense Service honor, a Good Conduct Medal, and a ROK
Presidential Unit Citation (the highest unit honor the President can bestow on a military unit). In 1954, he received an
honorable discharge at Fort Carson, Colorado.
On March 10, 1956, James was united in holy matrimony to Mattie Dean Jackson. Later, this couple decided to start a family,
and unto this union, ultimately, five children were born (four daughters and one son, who is the "baby of the family"). After
finally being blessed with a boy, James and Mattie decided that their family was complete!
After returning from the military, he purchased & manually cleared off over 40 acres of land in Panola County, along with
the help of his wife and children; he proudly worked as a farmer, planting and producing cotton, soy beans, and many other
crops. Later in life, he was employed by the North Panola School District where he worked for many years as a school bus
driver and a maintenance supervisor at the Como School, until his retirement. He served diligently in his community and was
an active member of the Farmers Co-Op in Batesville, MS, diligently supporting this corporation as well as a number of other
community organizations and outreach programs.
In November 2020, James and Mattie moved to Tupelo, MS in order to be closer to their children. While in Tupelo, James
received the care he required for his various medical issues.
On December 29, 2023, the Lord released James from all pain and suffering when He called him "home"; James departed
this life at the North Mississippi Center in Tupelo, MS, transitioning to his eternal home to be with the Lord.
James was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille Sanders; his father, James Davis, Sr.; his stepmother, Ocia Bell Davis;
four brothers (Oscar Davis, Willie Arthur "Bill" Davis, Leroy Davis and Charles Davis; and three sisters (Mattie Davis
Jackson, Clara Davis Dawkins and Alice Marie Davis Figgs) along with four step siblings (Dan Butler, Robert Butler, Mae
Onie Butler Shaw, and Edward "Jody" Butler).
He leaves to cherish his memories, his loving wife, Mattie Dean Jackson Davis, and their five children, Debra Jolynn Butler;
Catherine Anita (Willie) Windless; and James Oscar Davis III, of Memphis, TN; Eloise (Kenneth) Mayfield; and Vera Ann
(Wesley) Wells of Tupelo, MS; and his daughter from his first marriage, Martha Marie (Lester) Collins of St. Louis,
Missouri. His siblings: Three brothers- Cleoptha "Doc" Davis of Sledge, MS; Rev. Samuel (Wendy) Davis, Sr. of Nesbit,
MS; Min. Johnny (Rose) Davis Sr. of Darling, MS. Three sisters: Thelma Whitehead of Glen Ellyn, IL; Ruth (Billy) Jones of
Chicago, IL; Rosetta Fluker of Indianapolis, IN.; and 14 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren;
and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.