Jessie Davis Obituary

Jessie Davis

November 7, 1938 -

December 19, 2024

Jessie Delane "J.D." Davis passed away in his home on December 19, 2024 after a battle with Parkinson's Disease.

J.D. was born in 1938 in Rogersville, TN to George and Ruth Davis. As a high-schooler, he distinguished himself on the basketball court, flummoxing his opponents with his "basically unblockable" (according to him) hook shot. Whether it was his court prowess or something else, he made an impression on one Leta Ketron, a stunning Bloomingdale girl, and she made one on him, leading to an awe-inspiring, beautiful 66-year marriage, four children, nine grand-children, and nine great-grandchildren.

After graduating Surgoinsville high school and marrying his sweetheart, he embraced a Norman Rockwell-esque life of patient parenting, steady employment at Holston Defense Corporation (where he retired after 31 years of service), and steadfast faith as a Christian.

Sports were also a big part of who he was. He loved all levels of them, and was involved as a booster, coach, and advisor for decades in Bloomingdale. As a huge fan of the University of Tennessee, things went even further, and he had an uncanny knack of getting into events and locations where, maybe, technically, he was not supposed to be. (True story, after one such incident, UT Football Head Coach Phil Fulmer basically told him to lock up when he left).

It was no accident that JD could worm his way into places...you see, he had a charisma, wrapped in gentle kindness, sparked by audacity that was irresistible. He lived his life "inside out." He had a zest for living that was contagious...seemingly every meal was the best he'd ever had! His love for food and for fellow humans was not pretended...it was sincere, and people felt it when they were around him. It generated from a bottomless well-spring that touched so many lives, and like a sort of miracle, the more he gave, the more he had to give. This made those who knew him best admire him to the point of reverence. Truly, if you didn't like J.D., the problem was you.

While his close presence will be desperately missed, he will live on in the wisdom and loveliness he passed on to those he touched in his long life.

Preceding him in death were his parents, as well as his brothers Lynn and Gary, and sister Evelyn.

JD is survived by his loving wife Leta Ketron Davis of Kingsport, TN; his children and their spouses Cindy (and Freddie, deceased) Hicks of Gate City, VA; Ricky Davis (and Lucretia) of Kingsport, TN; Delana (and Kevin) Brickey of Kingsport, TN; Jay (and Angie) Davis of Bristol, TN; his grandchildren Ashley, Heather, Freddie, Robbie, Lilly, Avery, Matthew, Andrea, and Justin; nine great-grandchildren, siblings Donnie and Cathy; numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends.

Visitation services and burial information can be found on the Carter-Trent Kingsport website at https://www.legacy.com/funeral-homes/tennessee/kingsport/carter-trent-funeral-home-kingsport/fh-10484. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Salem Methodist Church or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at https://www.michaeljfox.org/.