Dayhoff Soundtrack: James Willard Davis, Jr., 83 of Westminster, MD

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

James Willard Davis, Jr., 83 of Westminster, MD

Mr. James Willard Davis Jr.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Westminster, MD on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 12noon. Interment will be private.

http://www.haightfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Davis/

November 16, 1927 - February 18, 2011

Obituary & Life History

James Willard Davis, Jr., 83 of Westminster, MD died at his home on Friday, February 18, 2011.

James Willard Davis, Jr. was born in Baltimore to James Willard Davis, Sr. and Elise Piet Davis. He was married to Grace Mercer.

James W. Davis, graduated high school at the age of 16 then attended Loyola College in Baltimore for 2 years. In 1944 he entered the Jesuit order and took solemn vows in 1947. He received two years of monastic life, 2 years of classical studies and then 3 years of scholastic and modern philosophy at Woodstock College. He left the order on an amicable basis and in 1952 enlisted for 3 years in the US Army as a crypto-analyst serving in Korea. He entered Georgetown University Law School the fall of 1955 and graduated "cum laude" in June of 1958.

He clerked in the Washington law firm of Covington & Burling, then was hired as an associate attorney. He took leave of absence from the firm in 1960 to work with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights where he was an Assistant Special Attorney. In the early 60's, he traveled incognito (as a GSA inspector) for the Commission in Mississippi and Alabama and worked with Dr. Martin L. King, NAACP Attorney Medger Evers and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.

In 1963, he returned to Maryland and took up the practice of law in Westminster. He was active in politics as a Democrat. He formed his own law firm in 1985 and retired from Davis, Murphy and Stone in 1999.
He was an active parishioner of St. John Catholic Church in Westminster. He was instrumental in the establishment of a refuge and prayer community, "Resurrection Farm".

He took a leave from his law practice to study Spanish in Mexico for 16 weeks. In 2002 he moved to the Yucatan for a year to develop his language skills.

After returning to Carroll County, he developed a ministry to the Mexican workers as an ombudsman. He arranged for local doctors and attorneys as needed and acted as translator. With the increasing influx of immigrants, and he enlisted the help of other Spanish-speaking volunteers.

In 2005, he moved to the Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD, where he enjoyed traveling and attending the Opera. In the fall of 2010, he moved back to Westminster to be with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Davis Mercer, son and daughter-in-law James W. Davis, III and Amy Heebner Davis, daughters Marian E. Davis and Elise P. Davis, grandchildren Christopher, Malinda, and Saralynn Davis, and Peter Davis, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents, brother Harry Shirley Davis, and nephew Eric Davis.

Family will be receiving friends and relatives at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, 6416 Sykesville Road (Rte. 32) in Sykesville, MD on Monday, February 21, 2011 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Westminster, MD on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 12noon. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Human Services Programs of Carroll County (HSP), P.O. Box 489, Westminster, MD 21158.

20110218 Jim Davis 19271116

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