Obituary for Abraham Davis Jr.
Abraham Davis Jr.
1939 – 2022
Abraham Davis Jr., known to his siblings as “Junior” and to his friends and colleagues simply as “Abe,” passed away peacefully on June 15th at 7:30 AM in Washington, DC.
Abraham was born on December 13th, 1939 in Boligee, Alabama to Annie Lula Tartt Davis and Abraham Davis Sr. He was the third of 11 siblings: Walter, Marie, Abraham, Annie, Lillie Mae, Louise, Ester-Mae, Nancy, Elnora, Henry, and a stillborn daughter.
Abraham Sr and Annie were sharecroppers in Tishabee, Alabama where they set an example of hard work and dedication for Abraham and his siblings. At age 16, Abe told his mother that God had called him to preach. He was known to preach in his family’s church, Christian Valley Baptist Church in Tishabee, Alabama. Abraham excelled in academics and graduated from high school a year early in 1958. Following high school, Abraham was eager to leave behind the farming life and was the first of his siblings to move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and live with his cousin, Mattie White.
In 1961, he matriculated to Virginia Union University, where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts in 1963. Following his time at Virginia Union, Abraham enrolled in the School of Divinity at Howard University. However, after a year of study amidst the unrest of the Civil Rights movement, he transferred to the school’s graduate program for sociology, from which he earned a master’s degree in 1966.
Following Howard, Abraham became a teacher at a small catholic university in Baltimore, Maryland. After his brief career in academics, Abraham moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he earned a Master’s of Public Administration in 1969 from the University of Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Washington, DC to begin his career as a civil servant, first for the federal government before transferring to the DC government, where he served for the remainder of his career. Abraham continued his academic pursuits and began working towards a PhD in Sociology at Catholic University, ultimately receiving a Master’s Degree in Sociology.
Throughout his life, Abraham had many side jobs, including working as an insurance salesman, cook, sales clerk for the Montgomery Ward Department store, and serving as a photographer for Health Services for Children with Special Needs. As an avid photographer, Abraham started his own video production and photography company, M&C Video Productions. He could often be seen at social events with his camera around his neck. During the latter part of his career, Abraham became heavily involved in advocating for employment equity. He served in his local union and advocated on the behalf of his colleagues in EEOC cases. After decades of dedicated service, Abraham retired from the DC Department of Health, Commission of Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health. Following his retirement, he continued to dedicate his time to advocating for his former colleagues and peers in employment law cases. He also enjoyed playing bridge on a regular basis with close friends.
In 1964, he became a member of the Kappa Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and remained an active member of the organization for the remainder of his life. He was actively involved in the Alpha Omega chapter of the organization and became a life-member of the fraternity. In 2011, he became a Freemason and served as an active member of Eureka Lodge 5.
Abraham Davis Jr. is preceded in death by his parents Abraham Davis Sr. and Annie Lula Tartt Davis; two brothers: Henry Davis and Walter C. Davis; and three sisters: Lilly Mae Davis, Louise Turner and Marie Smith.
He is survived by his two sons: Charles Davis of Los Angeles, CA and Marcus Davis and his wife Erika of Washington, DC; and three grandchildren: Lotus, Judah and Emery Davis. He leaves behind his sisters: Anne B. Hilliard of Pittsburgh, PA, Nancy D. Motley of Birmingham, AL, Ester M. Davis of Forkland, AL, and Elnora Moore of Irondale, AL; 6 nieces and 6 nephews; and 15 great-nieces and -nephews. He also leaves behind his friend, Joanne Adetayo; his godsons: Brian Jackson and James Nelson; and a host of cousins and friends.
The family wishes to thank all of the friends who sat at Abe’s bedside, offered a kind word, or said a special prayer.
1939 – 2022
Abraham Davis Jr., known to his siblings as “Junior” and to his friends and colleagues simply as “Abe,” passed away peacefully on June 15th at 7:30 AM in Washington, DC.
Abraham was born on December 13th, 1939 in Boligee, Alabama to Annie Lula Tartt Davis and Abraham Davis Sr. He was the third of 11 siblings: Walter, Marie, Abraham, Annie, Lillie Mae, Louise, Ester-Mae, Nancy, Elnora, Henry, and a stillborn daughter.
Abraham Sr and Annie were sharecroppers in Tishabee, Alabama where they set an example of hard work and dedication for Abraham and his siblings. At age 16, Abe told his mother that God had called him to preach. He was known to preach in his family’s church, Christian Valley Baptist Church in Tishabee, Alabama. Abraham excelled in academics and graduated from high school a year early in 1958. Following high school, Abraham was eager to leave behind the farming life and was the first of his siblings to move to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and live with his cousin, Mattie White.
In 1961, he matriculated to Virginia Union University, where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts in 1963. Following his time at Virginia Union, Abraham enrolled in the School of Divinity at Howard University. However, after a year of study amidst the unrest of the Civil Rights movement, he transferred to the school’s graduate program for sociology, from which he earned a master’s degree in 1966.
Following Howard, Abraham became a teacher at a small catholic university in Baltimore, Maryland. After his brief career in academics, Abraham moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he earned a Master’s of Public Administration in 1969 from the University of Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Washington, DC to begin his career as a civil servant, first for the federal government before transferring to the DC government, where he served for the remainder of his career. Abraham continued his academic pursuits and began working towards a PhD in Sociology at Catholic University, ultimately receiving a Master’s Degree in Sociology.
Throughout his life, Abraham had many side jobs, including working as an insurance salesman, cook, sales clerk for the Montgomery Ward Department store, and serving as a photographer for Health Services for Children with Special Needs. As an avid photographer, Abraham started his own video production and photography company, M&C Video Productions. He could often be seen at social events with his camera around his neck. During the latter part of his career, Abraham became heavily involved in advocating for employment equity. He served in his local union and advocated on the behalf of his colleagues in EEOC cases. After decades of dedicated service, Abraham retired from the DC Department of Health, Commission of Public Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health. Following his retirement, he continued to dedicate his time to advocating for his former colleagues and peers in employment law cases. He also enjoyed playing bridge on a regular basis with close friends.
In 1964, he became a member of the Kappa Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and remained an active member of the organization for the remainder of his life. He was actively involved in the Alpha Omega chapter of the organization and became a life-member of the fraternity. In 2011, he became a Freemason and served as an active member of Eureka Lodge 5.
Abraham Davis Jr. is preceded in death by his parents Abraham Davis Sr. and Annie Lula Tartt Davis; two brothers: Henry Davis and Walter C. Davis; and three sisters: Lilly Mae Davis, Louise Turner and Marie Smith.
He is survived by his two sons: Charles Davis of Los Angeles, CA and Marcus Davis and his wife Erika of Washington, DC; and three grandchildren: Lotus, Judah and Emery Davis. He leaves behind his sisters: Anne B. Hilliard of Pittsburgh, PA, Nancy D. Motley of Birmingham, AL, Ester M. Davis of Forkland, AL, and Elnora Moore of Irondale, AL; 6 nieces and 6 nephews; and 15 great-nieces and -nephews. He also leaves behind his friend, Joanne Adetayo; his godsons: Brian Jackson and James Nelson; and a host of cousins and friends.
The family wishes to thank all of the friends who sat at Abe’s bedside, offered a kind word, or said a special prayer.