George Davis

DAVIS

Posted By: J. Breen (email)
Date: 10/1/2020 at 12:41:48

George Davis had a big funeral. By actual count, 353 persons viewed the body in the church, many did not pass the bier and 100 were at the grave, who did not attend the church. Rev. Payton paid a beautiful tribute to this old friend. He said he never in his years in the ministry had seen as many white people turn out to pay a tribute of respect to a colored man. Which showed that this a good community and that George was a popular man. He preached from the text, “Put on the whole armor of God.” He had prepared rather an eloquent sermon. He said righteousness and decency paid. He said that George had tried to live a Christian and had been honest and upright and tried to live up to his word. He said when he moved to town, George was one of the first to offer to aid him, and when he got down to the parsonage George came with his little express wagon and brought him a load of wood. He talked with George during his sickness and he believed that he had fought the good fight, he had finished and he had kept the faith like Paul. He spoke words of comfort to the bereaved widow. He said the Lord alone could comfort her and He would do it. He spoke of a crushing grief that had come to him 86 years ago and only the faith in God made it possible to bear the blow. So he told Aunt Sallie to be of good cheer and to look to the Lord for compassion and comfort. The services were held at the little colored church. There were a great many flowers. There was a great bank of flowers about the casket. The choir of the white Methodist church furnished the music. The pall bearers were our leading citizens, Col. Bell, Col. Palmer, J. A. Cunningham, Tom Anderson, Clark Sitler and W. W. Wilson. And the places that knew old George Davis will know him no more forever.

Source: Washington Democrat, July 12, 1905