Paul A Davis

Paul A. Davis, 85, a resident of Cleveland, died Sunday evening, July 26, 2009 in a local hospital. He was born August 2, 1923 in Clairborne County, TN and was the oldest of four children. After graduating from high school he went to Lockhaven, PA where he took a welding course and went to work for Piper Airplane Manufacturers. Following a brief stay in Lockhaven he went to work in a shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland and then return to Clairborne County where he was drafted into the U.S. Marines. He attended boot camp in San Diego, CA and then was later transferred to Norman, Oklahoma to an airplane mechanic school then to Cherry Point, NC where he was stationed for 13 months. He returned to California before going overseas during the last months of World War II. He was present at Pearl Harbor the day Japan surrendered. He later enrolled at Lincoln Memorial University and taught on-the-job training for veterans. Davis was marrried to the former Azilee Berry and together they transferred to the University of Tennessee in 1951 where they both graduated. He worked in the meat lab as a butcher and served on the National Meat Judging Team. After graduating from U.T. he was employed as a statistician by Tennessee Valley Authority and later with Farmers Home Administration and moved to Cleveland after his training in Dickson, TN. He worked as the assistant County Supervisor and then supervisor for 31 years providing loans to farmers for houses, farms, cattle and equipment. He was a member of First Baptist Church for 52 years, the Cleveland Council #1 24 R&S.N. Cleveland Chapter #39 R.A.M. In 1997 Davis was inducted into the Bradley County Agriculture Hall of Fame. He was in Honor Flight for World War II Veterans and a charter member of the National World War II Museum. He was preceded in death by his parents Elbert L. and Vina Wilcox Davis, three infant daughters; mother and father-in-law Verlin and Lottie Berry; sister-in-law Imogene Owens; nephew Jeff Stegald and niece Jane Smith. Survivors include his wife Azilee Berry Davis; daughter Lisa Ann Davis; Kimberly Jo Neely and husband Tony; two granddaughters: Tuesday Nicole Brazier and Mary Jolee Neely; brother Jacob Davis and wife Cleo; sisters: Patsy Maynard and husband John and Janice Stover; brothers-in-law Marson Berry and wife Nita, Don Berry and wife Carol; James Owens and wife Doris and special friend Stacy Hollingsworth and many friends and relatives. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2009 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Reverend Tom Moncrief and Reverend Bill Griffith officiating. Interment will be at 11a.m., Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Sunset Memorial Gardens with military honors and a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. Marson Berry, Neal Berry, Jake Davis, John Davis, Jim Wagner, Gary Ownes and Tony Neely will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Manly Sunday School Class. The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 99 Central Avenue, NE, Cleveland, TN 37311 or the charity of your choice. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Davis family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com