Official Obituary of
Joseph Winston Davis
January 7, 2024
Joseph Davis Obituary
Joseph Winston Davis, age 79, passed away peacefully on January 7 at his home.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betsy Sahl Davis; daughter Jennifer Bunn (Leonard); son Samuel Davis; grandsons Adam and Cody Davis; and brother Harold Davis (Carolyn). He is preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Ruby Davis; and sister Audrey Davis Tunstall.
After graduating from Blackstone High School, Joe pursued his lifelong career in the family logging and lumber business, his passion being timber cruising. It was there he declared that the two biggest lies ever told are, “The timber’s mine” and “The dog don’t bite!” He was well-respected in the industry, viewed by his employees, colleagues, and customers to be a fair and honorable man.
Joe and Betsy were introduced by mutual friends at her nursing school in Baltimore, MD and, on January 28, 1967, they eloped to Elizabeth City, NC. He was a devoted husband for 57 years, a generous father and friend. At various times in his life, “Nate” or “Doc,” as he was fondly called by many friends, enjoyed hunting with his bird dogs; boating at Buggs Island; golfing; piloting; traveling with friends and family; buying and selling properties; happy hours at the pond and, later, the cabin, where he told many a story that would “make a dog laugh;” building vacation homes in the Outer Banks; and, finally, in Urbanna, where he loved to sit on the porch overlooking the water and visit with his good friend Dale. Most of all, though, Joe aka “Papa” found one of his greatest joys to be loving his grandsons.
Joe recently shared that although in his older age there were things he could no longer do, he could still make things possible for other people. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the local HELP organization or a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held at the Nottoway River Country Club, 547 Country Club Lane, Blackstone, VA, on Sunday, January 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Arrangements are by the Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, 1826 Cox Road, Blackstone, VA 23824. www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com
SERVICES
He is survived by his loving wife, Betsy Sahl Davis; daughter Jennifer Bunn (Leonard); son Samuel Davis; grandsons Adam and Cody Davis; and brother Harold Davis (Carolyn). He is preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Ruby Davis; and sister Audrey Davis Tunstall.
After graduating from Blackstone High School, Joe pursued his lifelong career in the family logging and lumber business, his passion being timber cruising. It was there he declared that the two biggest lies ever told are, “The timber’s mine” and “The dog don’t bite!” He was well-respected in the industry, viewed by his employees, colleagues, and customers to be a fair and honorable man.
Joe and Betsy were introduced by mutual friends at her nursing school in Baltimore, MD and, on January 28, 1967, they eloped to Elizabeth City, NC. He was a devoted husband for 57 years, a generous father and friend. At various times in his life, “Nate” or “Doc,” as he was fondly called by many friends, enjoyed hunting with his bird dogs; boating at Buggs Island; golfing; piloting; traveling with friends and family; buying and selling properties; happy hours at the pond and, later, the cabin, where he told many a story that would “make a dog laugh;” building vacation homes in the Outer Banks; and, finally, in Urbanna, where he loved to sit on the porch overlooking the water and visit with his good friend Dale. Most of all, though, Joe aka “Papa” found one of his greatest joys to be loving his grandsons.
Joe recently shared that although in his older age there were things he could no longer do, he could still make things possible for other people. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the local HELP organization or a charity of your choice.
A celebration of life will be held at the Nottoway River Country Club, 547 Country Club Lane, Blackstone, VA, on Sunday, January 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Arrangements are by the Joseph McMillian Funeral Home, 1826 Cox Road, Blackstone, VA 23824. www.mcmillianfuneralhome.com
SERVICES
Memorial Service
Sunday, January 21, 2024
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Nottoway Country Club
547 Country Club Lane
Blackstone, VA 23824
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Winston Davis, please visit our floral store.
Services
You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Joseph Winston Davis
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