John O. Davis

John O. Davis John O. Davis, 94, died Thursday, March 12, 2015, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. He was born June 2, 1920, in Fort Worth, Texas, to John Edgar Davis and Bertie Hopkins Davis. He was raised in Fort Worth and married his wife, Jessie Mae Williamson, there in 1940. In 1941 he was hired as a draftsman by the Defense Mapping Agency, U. S. Navy Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C. Upon arrival in D.C., he was asked to consider working as a cartographer (map maker) in the new and developing field of Photogrammetry Engineering rather than Drafting. He readily agreed and was the sixth person hired in this section which rapidly grew to more than 150 within a year, and later became a division. In 1944 he left Washington to serve active duty in the US Navy during WW II. After his discharge he returned to Defense Mapping and also served in the inactive reserve. When he retired in 1975, he was Chief, Special Activities Division, Defense Mapping Agency. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Dallas, Texas. He loved music, had a deep bass voice, and enjoyed singing in the choir and occasionally directing music at Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist church in D.C. He also enjoyed playing his saxophone in the orchestra at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas and entertaining the residents and staff at Avonlea in Tupelo where he resided in his later years. He was devoted to his family and always enjoyed being with his children, grand-children and great grand-children. Survivors include his daughter, Carol Flowers (Alan) of Tupelo, his son, Bill Davis (Carolyn) of Apple Valley, MN; six grandchildren Brian Flowers (Meg) of Birmingham, AL, Kelly Butler (Michael) of Huntsville, AL, Stacey Olson (Marty) of Hermantown, MN, Amy Zuber (Kris) of Woodbury, MN, Steven Davis (Kati) of Menomonie, WI, and Sara Ulwelling (Zak) of Victoria, MN; 11 great-grandchildren and his brother Joe Davis of Watauga, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jessie Mae, and one brother Harold Davis. There will be no visitation. A Graveside Service will be at Tupelo Memorial Park at 11 am on Monday, March 16, with Rev. David Langerfeld officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harrisburg Baptist Church Building Fund, 4675 Cliff Gookin Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38801, or Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803.