Reverend John William Sutphin Davis, 89, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 in Midlothian, Virginia.He was born in Henderson, North Carolina on June 17, 1923, the third and youngest son of the late R.G.S. Davis and Mary Campbell Shuford Davis. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sarah Nelson Dawson Davis of Cramerton, North Carolina. In addition, he was predeceased by his siblings, Alexander Shuford Davis and Robert Green Sutphin Davis.He is survived by his daughter, Mary Shuford Davis Crawford and her husband James Bartlett Crawford of Richmond, Virginia.His son, John William Sutphin Davis, Jr. and his wife Cami Stryker Davis of Midlothian, Virginia; and five grandchildren, Sarah Latham Moore, Kathryn Longino Moore, John William Sutphin Davis III, Elizabeth Talbot Davis, and Grace Stryker Davis.He attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.He served as a Naval Air Corps flight instructor in World War II.After the war, he attended Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained with the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.He was the first rector of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina and Christ Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He served as rector of The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson, and as chaplain of St. Marys School in Raleigh.He served as an interim rector in numerous churches over the years in North Carolina and Virginia.After retirement from the Episcopal Diocese, he taught science and math in Henderson at Vance Academy and at Vance-Granville Community College. He talked often of his love of teaching and working with young people. In later years, he and Sarah moved to Richmond to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. They immensely enjoyed their time in Richmond, especially with their family and the many wonderful friends they made. He valued his faith and service to God and was loved by all who knew him. In his final years, he lived with his son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren and enjoyed being in the middle of family life, he especially enjoyed the lively discussions with his grandchildren about everything from spirituality to supernovas to politics and family history.He often said that when he died and went to the kingdom of God, his wife, Sarah would say What took you so long and he would say I had a lot of things to do.A service of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, September 15 at 2:00 pm at The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson and conducted by the Reverend Donald A. Lowery.The family will receive friends in the Great Hall of the church immediately following interment in the columbarium of the memorial garden.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Church of the Holy Innocents in Henderson, North Carolina, 27536.Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home in Henderson, N.C.
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