Deacon Moses Davis

With heartfelt sympathy, Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., and Joy M. Davis announce the passing of Deacon Moses Davis of Darlington, SC. The husband of the late Mrs. Lila M. Jerry Davis and the father of Ms. Joy M. Davis, Deacon Davis transitioned peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, Florence, SC.

Public viewing will be held 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Friday, May 15, 2026, in the chapel of Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., 612 S Main St, Darlington, SC.

A Wake will follow in the chapel from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The funeral service will be held 12:00 PM noon, Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Flat Creek Baptist Church, 1369 Society Hill Rd, Darlington, SC, with Rev. Eugene Thomas, Eulogist. Interment in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, 1372 Pocket Rd, Darlington, SC, will follow the service.

Obituary

  “My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, And health (medicine) to all their flesh.”  Proverbs 4:20-22

     Deacon Moses Davis was born April 28, 1936, to Rev. Joseph Daniel and Ethel Gaskins Davis in the High Hill Community of Scranton, SC, raised and schooled in the Lake City and Wilson, NC, areas.

     In his early 20s, Moses migrated north from Wilson, NC and settled in Stamford, CT. He was an extremely hard worker, always working at least two jobs at all times, to provide, not only for himself, but also for his mother after his father’s passing. Moses lived a life of obedience and service to others, especially obeying his father‘s call to his sons to take care of their mother and younger siblings, so when he saved enough to get a house, he moved his mother and all of his younger school-aged siblings to Stamford, enrolled them all in school and made sure they all were provided for in every way and all graduated from high school, found jobs, spouses and eventually had families of their own.

     Moses’ two main jobs at this time were a Courier for Graphic Color Plate during the day and the Night Manager and Cook for White Tower Restaurant for 25 years. He was the proud owner of Moses Davis Handyman, which he started with one lawnmower in the trunk of his car, and God quickly developed and multiplied it into a full-service landscaping business: mowing grass during Summer, blowing leaves in Autumn, plowing snow during Winter, planting in the Spring and also servicing office buildings year-round.

     Moses joined Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Stamford under the leadership of Dr. William Baxter. He was discipled in leadership, visitation and Christian service by the next pastor, Dr. Rafe M. Taylor and he would share and teach those disciplines and principles to his daughter and to every young person who God sent his way.

     Moses married Lila Mae Jerry August 20, 1966 and God blessed them with one daughter Joy M. Davis.

     Moses was ordained a deacon and he and Mae worked fervently in the church and because they were younger, they were thoroughly discipled by the senior deacons and deaconesses.

      At FTMBC, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Samuel L. White, Moses was an out of the box leader and served as chairman of the Deacon Board, on the Faith Tabernacle Credit Union board, member of the Gospel Chorus, Men’s Chorus, Home Missions, Chairman and distributor of the Senior Christmas Envelopes, making sure all seniors were blessed with Christmas money from the church. He was always found in attendance of weekly Prayer Service, Bible Study, home and hospital visitation along with his best friend and Deacon buddy Deacon Herbert Mackey.

     In 1998, Moses retired to Darlington, SC, the hometown of his wife Mae, and joined her home church of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Eugene Thomas. He attended weekly Bible Study and Sunday School and served on the Deacon Ministry and Men’s Choir.

     Moses lived a full life in Darlington with his love Mae and also after her transitioning, when he made Joy a promise that they would travel home to Connecticut at least once a year and he kept that promise until the pandemic March 2020. Every year they not only drove to Connecticut to visit family and Church family members, but on the returning trip, stopped in each state to visit not only family, but also Church family who retired and moved back to their hometowns. During these yearly trips and monthly phone calls, Moses especially enjoyed spending quality time, gaining wisdom and knowledge from his Uncle Deacon George Gaskins. Moses stated his goal was to live to be 104 like Uncle George. Knowing the power of life and death is in our tongue, Joy was preparing them for those next 20 years. God blessed him to live to enjoy his 90th birthday the day before going home to be with Him.

     During the pandemic, Moses and Joy were virtually covered by Bishop-Elect Rev. Dr. Sonya Merrill-Williams and Church Without Walls Ministries, where he virtually attended weekly Bible Study and prayed during the nightly prayer line call until he would only repeatedly say “Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus!” during his last verbal prayer.

      Moses would always be seen with Joy, riding around and enjoying life. He especially enjoyed attending the Darlington Council On Aging where he attended weekly Bible Study, played Bingo and participated in the annual senior games.

      When not at Pleasant Grove, Moses would be seen with Joy at whatever church she was serving as a Freelance Church Organist. Wherever Joy was, Moses was there also at rehearsals, morning worship services and all Pee Dee Baptist Association choir rehearsals and services.

      Moses’ quiet strength and dapper-dressing style spoke volumes that a wheelchair was not going to stop him from praising God, serving and visiting family, church family, traveling and vacationing every Christmas through New Year in North Myrtle Beach with Joy, which was his yearly vacation gift to her. No matter what setting he was in, when Moses looked or smiled at anyone, the power of God came upon them to favor him.

       Deacon Moses leaves to cherish his memories his only child, 24 hour caregiver of 9 years, and best friend: Joy M. Davis, Godsons Elder Keith (Danielle) Mackey, Houston, TX, Gregory Void, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Grand-Godson Demahn Williams, Darlington, SC. Sisters Freda Davis, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Billie Ruth Johnson, Stamford, CT, sisters-in-law Lillie Mae Davis, Upper Marlboro, MD, Hattie Margaret Davis, Wilson, NC, Dr. Christine Davis, Monroe, CT. Special Nephews: Clarence Davis, David Davis, Jerry (Brenda) Goodson, Charles (Lurline) Jerry. Special Nieces: Gloria Davis Gilmore, Itta Galmore, Peggy Bullock, Tempsie (Linwood) Davis Richardson. Special Cousins: Donna & Chris Jefferson, Lee (Lettie) Gaskins, Al (Sharon) Gaskins. Special Friends: Friend over 60 years: Thelma Summerville, Friend over 55 years: Deaconess Joyce The Bird Mackey (Best Friend the Late Deacon Herbert Mackey), Co-Worker & Friend for over 45 years: Dallas Ruffin, Representative Deacon Robert (Janice) Williams, Hundreds of nephews, nieces, cousins and friendly acquaintances.

Joy M. Davis has requested that all correspondence be sent at this time to Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., 612 S Main St, Darlington, SC, 29532.

Please keep Joy M. Davis, the extended family, and friends of Deacon Moses Davis in your thoughts and prayers. 

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