Harnett Dispatch

Donald Spencer Davis

Donald Spencer Davis, 85 of Erwin passed away at his home on March 6, 2015 after a rich and wonderful life.
Don was born in Hannibal, Missouri on January 19, 1930 to Dean and Jewell Davis. He was educated at Moberly Missouri High School, University of Maryland and Austin Peay State Teachers College, Clarksville, Tennessee.
Don retired as a US Army Major after serving in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division, 1st Calvary Division; Korea, Japan and Germany from October 3, 1946 until October 31, 1966. While serving in the Army, he received many honors and awards-Department of the Army Accommodation Ribbon with Cluster; Department of Defense Accommodation Medal; Gold Conduct Medal and Army Master Parachutist Badge.
After Don retired from the Army he was the founder of a military Food Broker/Retail Food Distribution business; Don-Ron Military Marketing President and Chairman.
He later began his political career. He was the Republican Party nominee for 1990 and 1992 Congressional election (2nd and 3rd Congressional District). He was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives where he served from 1995 until he retired in 2002. Don served in many capacities at Heritage Bible College in Dunn, NC. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees for twenty-five years and served five years as finance director under the Presidency of Dr. Dwarka Ramphal. He received a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Heritage Bible College in 1995.
Don also enjoyed farming and selling produce. He later became a volunteer Chaplin at Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dunn, NC after receiving his ministerial license from New Millennium Ministries in Dunn, NC.
Don was a life-time member of Antioch PFWB Church in Erwin where he served as the Church Administrator. He has served as deacon, trustee, teacher and Sunday School Superintendent and he also headed the 1st Impressions Team and Rest Home Ministry at Harnett Woods and Cornerstone. Don was a member of the Dunn Rotary Club and served two terms as president. He was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award for his dedicated service in the Rotary Club. He also received the Rotary Integrity award in 2012. Don was also a member of the VFW and The American Legion. He also served as a member of the board of directors for the General William C. Lee Museum in Dunn, NC. He was formerly secretary-treasurer of Armed Forces Marketing Council in Washington, DC and on the National Board of Directors with American Logistic Association in Washington, DC.
Don was married to Kellon Lucas Hamilton Davis for thirty-five years. He was predeceased by his first wife Juanita Butler Davis, his parents Dean & Jewell Davis and step-mother Louise Davis.
He is survived by a son, Ronald Dean Davis and wife Stuart Kelly Davis of Erwin and their three children Alston Davis of Raleigh, Dr. Spencer Davis of Charlotte, and Mary Davis of Charleston, SC. A daughter, Lisa Hamilton Metz and husband Kerry Metz and their son, Coleman McRay Metz of the home in Erwin. A daughter, Denise Hamilton Marshall and husband Pat Marshall of Dunn and their three children, Christopher Lucas Marshall, Caroline Hamilton Marshall and Chase Davis Marshall of the home. A sister Josephine Jones of Smithfield and two brothers, Harry Davis and wife Linda and George Davis and wife Cathy from Kansas City, Missouri.
Funeral services with be provided by West & Dunn Funeral Home of Erwin. Visitation will be held at Antioch PFWB Church of Erwin from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, March 13. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 14 at Antioch PFWB Church at 2 pm. Burial will be in Erwin Memorial Park.
Please honor Don’s request by making donations to Crusaders PFWB Youth Camp in lieu of flowers. Donations should be mailed to PFWB Church attention: Randy Carter, PO Box 1568, Dunn NC 28335.