Frank Davis
1933 - 2013
Frank Davis was born in Toccoa, Georgia and moved to Oxford to attended Oxford College in 1950. It was here that he met Sarah Taylor, whom he married in 1953. They had five children. Davis went to work for Southern Airways in Atlanta in 1954, but was soon transferred to Greenwood, South Carolina, where he became the youngest Station manager on the system at the time. His 37-year career in the airline industry took him to six southern cities and spanned two airline mergers -- Southern Airways to Republic, and Republic to Northwest.
Davis served his community as chairman of the planning commission and was elected to the city council in 2007, a position he held until his death in 2013. He helped to establish the Turkey Creek Trail; he and his wife, Sarah even built the first bridge over Turkey Creek themselves. Among his other significant accomplishments as councilman involved his work on issues such as, getting the city to pass a $10,000 homestead tax exemption for Oxford homeowners, privatizing the city’s sanitation services, and creating a memorial plaque at the Oxford School (the historic African American Rosenwald School).
Davis was an active member of the Oxford Lions Club for most of his adult life and held nearly every office in that organization at one time or another. After returning to Oxford, he served as secretary of the Oxford Lions Club for many years. He was also active in the First Presbyterian Church in Covington, as well as treasurer of the Oxford Historical Shine Society. In this later capacity, Davis championed the relocation and restoration of Kitty’s Cottage and was instrumental in repairing and repainting Old Church.
After his retirement, Frank went into the construction industry as a construction superintendent on projects such as, the Jackson, Georgia Post Office, a security firm in Stone Mountain, and the renovation of an industrial plant in Jackson.
In 2013, Frank took charge of the installation of the heart of pine flooring at Old Church, a project that included the salvaging and restoring of reclaimed wood that was appropriate for maintaining the historic integrity of Old Church, one of Oxford’s most recognized landmarks.
Frank’s widow, Sarah still resides in Oxford. She is a leader in the community, taking her husband's place on the city council after his death. She also served as president of the Oxford Historical Society and a pianist at Allen Memorial Church.
Davis served his community as chairman of the planning commission and was elected to the city council in 2007, a position he held until his death in 2013. He helped to establish the Turkey Creek Trail; he and his wife, Sarah even built the first bridge over Turkey Creek themselves. Among his other significant accomplishments as councilman involved his work on issues such as, getting the city to pass a $10,000 homestead tax exemption for Oxford homeowners, privatizing the city’s sanitation services, and creating a memorial plaque at the Oxford School (the historic African American Rosenwald School).
Davis was an active member of the Oxford Lions Club for most of his adult life and held nearly every office in that organization at one time or another. After returning to Oxford, he served as secretary of the Oxford Lions Club for many years. He was also active in the First Presbyterian Church in Covington, as well as treasurer of the Oxford Historical Shine Society. In this later capacity, Davis championed the relocation and restoration of Kitty’s Cottage and was instrumental in repairing and repainting Old Church.
After his retirement, Frank went into the construction industry as a construction superintendent on projects such as, the Jackson, Georgia Post Office, a security firm in Stone Mountain, and the renovation of an industrial plant in Jackson.
In 2013, Frank took charge of the installation of the heart of pine flooring at Old Church, a project that included the salvaging and restoring of reclaimed wood that was appropriate for maintaining the historic integrity of Old Church, one of Oxford’s most recognized landmarks.
Frank’s widow, Sarah still resides in Oxford. She is a leader in the community, taking her husband's place on the city council after his death. She also served as president of the Oxford Historical Society and a pianist at Allen Memorial Church.