Joseph Cleophus Davis, Sr.

Joseph Cleophus Davis was born June 5, 1934 to Pearl Olivia Smith and Benjamin Jessie Davis in Port Gibson, Ms.  He was the fourth child of six children.  He was baptized at the tender age of ten and later became a lifetime member of Christian Chapel Church.  He graduated from the Jefferson County System and upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army.  He was joined in holy matrimony to Fay Vera Holt on June 4, 1958.  To this union, four children were born.  Later in life, two additional children were blessed to inherit him as their father.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army, Joseph worked at the Westing House Factory and later with the city of Port Gibson.  Joseph and his brother-in-law, William were employed as the first African Americans named to the city of Port Gibson Police Department that allowed them to wear a uniform and carry the service weapon.  He later decided to further his education by attending Alcorn State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology.  He was later employed by the University as a campus police officer before becoming Chief of Police.  After his retirement from Alcorn State University, he worked part time for the Claiborne County Medical Center and the Claiborne County Sheriff Department.  When he finished serving the people of Port Gibson, he decided to open his own community store name F&J Community Store.  He was proud to service the children in our community as they arrived from school.  One of his proudest community service projects was when he, along with Clarence Scutter founded the Larry Smith Basketball camp.  Through this service he was able to bring top NBA players to Port Gibson for one week every summer to meet with the area youth that participated in the camp.

Joseph was a member an Elder of Christian Chapel church, a Member of the Board of Elders, Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Deacon Board, Member of the Executive Board of the Christian Chapel Church Boy Scout Troop #253, Member of the NAACP, a Mason, and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Faye Holt Davis; his children Belinda(Larry) Smith, Joseph (Deidre) Davis, Jr., Myrtle Hedrick, Patrick(Belinda) Davis, Sr., Catina(Albert) Walker, Nekeyma Beasley; a sister, Louvenia Wilson; a special brother-in-law, William (Lillie) Holt; four sisters-in-law, Bertha (James) Dorsey, Lula (Charles) Buck, Frances Davis and Berniece Davis; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

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