Philip Davis Obituary

October 30, 1936 – March 28, 2024

ASHEVILLE, NC - Philip Coleman Davis was born on October 30, 1936 in Norton, Virginia to William Dean Davis and Virginia Coleman Davis. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1958. After teaching school in rural Virginia, he entered The Medical College of Virginia and graduated in 1964. After an internship at the Medical College of Virginia he completed his residency in Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital from 1965-1968. He served in the United States Army Medical Corp from 1968-1970, reaching the rank of Major. He returned to Atlanta from 1970-1972, completing a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Emory University. In 1972 he moved to Asheville and joined Asheville OB-GYN Associates and subsequently Campbell-Davis GYN Associates. He was a member of The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as The South Atlantic Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition, he served on multiple community boards but was most proud of and rewarded by the following: As president of the WNC Medical Society in 1991, he was one of the founders of Project Access, which to date has served over fifteen thousand uninsured and underserved patients, providing a savings of over fifty million dollars. He was named the outstanding physician teacher by MAHEC in June 1997. In May 1997, due to Project Access, he was presented with the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Physician Community Award in Las Vegas. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Lou McCarty Davis in 1988. He is survived by a son, Philip Coleman Davis, Jr. of Cookeville, Tennessee, a daughter, Melissa Ann Davis Mintz (Steven) of Richmond, Virginia, and three grandchildren, Cecelia Claire Mintz, John Philip Mintz and Zoe Isabel Mintz, and longtime companion Martha Blackshear Salisbury of Asheville, NC. A memorial service will be held to celebrate his life on Saturday, April 6 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church - Asheville. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in memory of Dr. Phil Davis to Project Access, 304 Summit Drive, Asheville, NC 28803. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family, and a guest register is available online at www.grocefuneralhome.com.