John Melvin “Butch” Davis, 75, of Tifton passed away Friday, January 8, 2021, at Tift Regional Medical Center. A private family funeral service will be held for Mr. Davis at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2021, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chip Grantham and the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe officiating. Mr. Davis will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The funeral service will be live-streamed at YouTube-Tifton FUMC.
Born August 1, 1945, in Durham, North Carolina, Mr. Davis was the son of the late John Henry Davis and Audrey Hembree Lever Davis.
He was honored to serve on numerous boards over his career with ABAC, Tiftarea YMCA, Tifton/Tift County Chamber of Commerce, just to name a few. He was truly honored to be the recipient of the DeNean Stafford Distinguished Service Award in 1998. He retired after a 43-year career as the President/CEO of First Community Bank. He most recently served as the Chairman of the board for the Tifton Branch of Colony Bank. He was a member of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Jerri Young Davis of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Dee Davis and Russ and Monica Davis, all of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Lee Davis Watson and her husband Shawn Watson of Tifton; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Brenda Lever of Tifton and Bill and Michelle Lever of Orange Park, Florida; one sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Jack Griffin of Tifton; nine grandchildren, Matt Davis and his wife, Jodie, Jared Davis, Drew Davis, Chandler Davis, Jenna Davis, John Davis, Brant Watson, Rylee Watson and Reece Watson; and two great-grandchildren, Beckett Davis and Sumner Davis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Tiftarea YMCA, 1657 Carpenter Road, Tifton, GA 31793; or the First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 107 12th Street West, Tifton, GA 31794.