Tommy Lee Davis

Published 8:30 am Thursday, July 1, 2010

     Services for Tommy Lee Davis will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at E.E. McDonald Community Chapel with Rev. Charles Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Old West Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery.

    Brother Davis, 77, of Meridian, passed away Monday, June 28, 2010, at Riley Hospital. Brother Davis began life’s journey by enrolling and serving in the U.S. Army, where he received an honorable discharge. He received his associate’s degree at T.J. Harris Jr. College and acquired his bachelor of science in social services at Mississippi State University.

    He was instrumental in structuring the Mississippi Action for Progress Program, currently known as Headstart. He was an entrepreneur and owned a construction company and several local restaurants. He retired from the Lockheed-Martin Aircraft Company and spent his remaining years with family and friends. As a lifelong member and musician of the Pilgrim Hill United Methodist Church, he was renowned for his musical talents by many local groups and surrounding churches. Brother Davis founded the “Head Start Wonders”, the “Anointed Gospel Singers” and also played for Jimmy and David Ruffin who later became members of “The Temptations.”

    Survivors include his wife, Rosie; daughter, Debra Davis-Jackson and her husband, David, of Meridian; three stepchildren, Tony Hudnall and his wife, Aretha, of Crestview, Fla., Angel Winford of Meridian and Miquelito Fluker of Huntsville, Ala.; 10 grandchildren; a brother, Edward Davis and his wife, Vallonia, of Meridian; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

    Visitation will be Friday, from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.