William “Billy” Bryant Davis died on June 22, 2017 in Ridgeland surrounded by family.
Funeral services were Monday at First Baptist Church. Burial followed at Shelby Cemetery in Stringer.
He was born March 15, 1933 near Holly Bluff Mississippi and shared his birth with a twin sister. He was 84 years old and a longtime resident of Yazoo County and Yazoo City. He was a 1951 graduate of Holly Bluff Consolidated School and earned a B.A. in Accounting from Mississippi State University in 1960.
Being a people person, he enjoyed social interaction and engaging in good conversation with family, friends and neighbors. He was known for his wit, teasing, and good sense of humor. He was elected to serve 8 years as Justice of the Peace District 5 Yazoo County, was one of the founders of Holly Bluff Gin Company and was president of Lake City Water Assn. After completing his formal education, he spent several years as an accountant in the private sector before assuming the responsibilities of the family farm interest for 21 years. He closed out his professional career in the field of insurance before retiring.
He served four years in the United State Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in the U.S. and in French Morocco.
During his retirement years, he became an avid baseball fan. He attended ballgames at MSU and many of the Major- League baseball parks with the Dodgers being his lifetime favorite. His sons enjoyed hosting him at these events with the College World Series at Omaha, NE being one of his favorite trips. A plaque honoring him will hang on the Bullpen gate of the future Dudy Noble Field at Mississippi State University reading: Pop and Lili Davis.
The church has always been a special part of his life. He enjoyed full fellowship in the church and especially the music ministry. He led the singing in Holly Bluff Baptist Church for 15 years and led the music ministry in the Oasis Nursing Home for 29 years, serving along with Marilyn Meyers and Jo Ann Jones. He enjoyed this weekly Christian ministry with these two, fine ladies. His Christian faith and membership in First Baptist Church, Yazoo City has played a major role in his daily life. His support of the Gideon’s was also a special part of his Christian ministry.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Van Buran Davis Jr. and Nina Yankie Davis; and three sisters, Ruby Rae Stampley, Jo Ann Clifton and Norma Jean Davis.
He is remembered with great love by his wife of 60 years, Lillian McAlpin Davis; his sons Walter Van Davis and Larry Bryant Davis; his beloved granddaughter, Mary Abigail “Abby” Davis; his twin siste,r Mary Lou Horton; his brother-in-law, Marvin Stampley; sister-in-law, Nettie Pracht, and several nieces and nephews.
