A Celebrating OfThe Life of

William Norris Davis, Sr.

Sunrise Sunset November 21, 1951 July 28, 2019

Monday, August 5, 20192:00 PM

Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church 7348 Laurinburg Road

Raeford, North Carolina

BBuie Funeral Home

543 Vass Road • Raeford, NC 28376(910) 875-3700 • www.buiesfuneralhome.com

“We Strive To Deserve Your Confidence”

Printed by CopyWright Printing CompanyAberdeen, NC (910) 944-1360 • Raeford, NC - (910) 875-6003

Floral bearers

Family CousinsPall bearers

Family Cousins

acknowledgments The Family wishes to acknowledge all the support and prayers during the illness and passing of our beloved William. Your Love, words of kindness, thoughts and deeds, continue to be a comfort to us. Pray our continued strength in the Lord as we move forward. Thank You! May God continue to keep and bless each of you!

Much Gratitude to Buie Funeral Home.

Thank You Family!

A Father’s Love A Father’s Love for his son has a way of HEALING WOUNDS.

Once the HOLY SPIRIT comes and PERMEATES THE ROOM.

A Father to his Son is someone who sets the RULES.

To guide him through his life with the perfect set of TOOLS.

Dad told me things like “ You gotta pay some DUES”.Many lessons learned till this Day I still USE.

He used to say “Son” I ain’t got nothing to PROVE.

And plus I ain’t no QUITTER, still a WINNER IF I LOSE. It’s hard for me to think about the fact that you are GONE.

But easy, since I you know you’re in his everlasting ARMS.

God has you now, so I’m happy but I’m SAD. Forever imma miss you everyday

I Love you DAD.

FROM YOUR BELOVED Son

~William N. Davis Jr.~

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Proverbs 23:24

order of service

Prelude .................... Ms. Anne Littlejohn, Minister of Music

PRoCessioNAl of CleRgy• Reverend Dr. J.W. gorham, Pastor - officiating• elder george H. Purcell• Reverend William Platt• Reverend garland e. Pierce• Pastor Michael C. Mcgill

HyMN .............Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Choir

sCRiPtuRes ReADiNg old testament ............................Elder George H. Purcell New testament ..................................Elder William Platt

PRAyeR of CoMfoRt ..............Reverend Garland E. Pierce

MusiCAl seleCtioN ..Sister Beverly Stubbs w/Church Choir

ACkNoWleDgMeNts ..... Sister Dorothy Stubbs McLaughlin

obituARy ..............................................To be Read Silently

ReMARks ...........................................(Limited to 2 minutes)• Vernice thomas – Childhood friend• Robert Malloy - law enforcement Colleague• Community Voice• William Norris Jr. for the family

solo ......................Minister Irma Rush… I Won’t Complain

eulogy ....................................Reverend Dr. J.W. Gorham

ClosiNg PRAyeR ..........................Pastor Michael C McGill

ReCessioNAl ............................Shady Grove Church Choir

IntermentShady Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery

Raeford, North Carolina

*Repast being served at Church following burial services*

Damien’s story William Norris Davis was born in Raeford, North Carolina on November 21, 1951 to Mary Lee Stubbs Davis and Frank Raiford Davis, Sr. The sixth-born of seven children to this union; ‘Bill’ was affectionately known as and as and called the ‘knee-baby’ of the family. Bill received his primary education in Raeford, NC under the watchful tutelage of his mother’s sister…Aunt Elnora Miles. As a public-school teacher in the area, she availed him an opportunity to enter school ahead of his class. It was that advantage that would propel Bill’s life course toward a long history-making career in law enforcement. Returning to Greensboro, Bill completed junior high and graduated from Dudley Sr. High School there in 1969. He immediately headed to Washington DC to join his brother Jim. William joined the Washington DC Metropolitan Department at the age of 17. Selected as a Cadet, he was one among just 20 to garner that first-time distinction in the nation. Upon graduation from the Police Academy, William became an Officer on the DC Department serving in several divisions and capacities and holding varying ranks; he enjoyed a stellar 21-year career there, until his retirement in 1993. After that retirement William continued his law enforcement career and service with stints as Police Lieutenant in Glen Arden, Maryland; Police Chief in Wagram, North Carolina and as a Pentagon Police Officer in Washington DC, from which he ultimately retired in 2013 and returned to Wagram. During those years at the DC Metropolitan Department, William met and married his sweetheart Joanie Liles in 1980. To this union of almost 40 years, two sons were born: William Norris, Jr. and Glenn Franklin. Stepson Lawrence Lewis completed the family. William transitioned this life on Sunday, July 28, 2019, following a long and courageous battle with Sarcoidosis. William leaves to cherish his memories: wife Joanie; son William Jr. and daughter-in-law Rene, Glenn Franklin, and stepson Lawrence, all of Maryland; brother James A. Jim Davis (Peggy), brother Christopher Davis (Kathy), and sister Christina Davis McCoy; Grandchildren Ahzjae, Skylar, Maliah, Lailah, Perris Richmond, and Malcom Drewery; plus a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. William was deeply loved, and he will be deeply missed.