Douglas W. Davis, Jr., Ph.D.

Douglas W. Davis, Jr., Ph.D. 87, passed March 13th at home in Nashville, TN. Dr. Davis was born in Guntown, MS on August 17, 1927, and was a U.S. Navy Veteran in WWII. He was preceded in death by his parents, Douglas Davis, Sr. and Varnelle Davis of Tupelo, MS, and his first wife, Nell (Meeks) Davis, also of Tupelo. A graduate of Delta State, M.A. from U. of Hawaii and Ph.D. in Communication at Indiana U. in 1971, he taught at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS and then the University of Alabama in Birmingham. In 1978 he became Director and Professor of the Tennessee Center for Labor Management Relations until his retirement in 1997. After retirement, he taught 10 years at Middle Tennessee State. He also served as a interpersonal communications consultant for some 30 years as he travelled into 42 states and spoke and taught over 5500 groups of many Fortune 500 companies and Labor Unions. Dr. Davis also served as a Pulpit minister in the Churches of Christ in Lebanon and Glasgow Kentucky, Cleveland Mississippi, Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Warner Robins Georgia, Bloomington Indiana and several congregations in Tennessee. An author, he published his last work, "Make Peace Now; For God's Sake, Stop the Bickering" in 2013. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Ellen Baker Davis; sons, Rev. Doug Davis (Sharon) of Kentucky and Dennas Davis (Ruthie) of Franklin; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Evan, and Valeria; step-daughter, Lisa Peebles (Bruce) of Nashville; grandsons, Michael and Kyle; stepson, Tom Bronston (Jennifer) of Atlanta; grandsons, Curtis Bronston (Tori) of Savannah, and Matthew Bronston (Lucile) of France. A graveside service will be held Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m. at Tupelo Memorial Gardens with Dr. Davis' cousin, James Seegars as Minister. W. E. Pegues Funeral Home in Tupelo is handling the arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com