Mr. Virgil C. Davis, 90, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 25, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.
Virgil was born in Hilliard to Hampton Avner Davis and Leah Ellen Conner. Due to the untimely death of his parents, as a teenager, he moved to Jacksonville to live with an older sister. In 1950, he married Hilliard native Stella Mae Tomlinson. The newlyweds initially lived in a rooming house on Atlantic Avenue. They then moved into a more private home on North 14th Street before moving to their present home site in 1956. In 1951, Mr. Davis began a long career with Container Corporation of America, where he retired in 1986 as a shift supervisor. Throughout his married life, he loved gardening, especially tending the field with his John Deere tractor. For many years, he and his wife enjoyed times at his lake lot on Lake Delancy in the Ocala National Forest. He also enjoyed traveling to the mountains, especially in the fall. He loved walking the trails and seeing the waterfalls. After retiring, Mr. Davis enjoyed his hobby of collecting, restoring and showing vintage automobiles. His love of antique cars led to his long affiliation and membership with the Amelia Cruisers. In recent times, he loved watching the birds in his lovely backyard from his back porch rocker. He also enjoyed his beloved cat, Whiskers, who brought him much joy. Above all, he cherished his wife and his times with her.
He now resides in heaven, surrounded by his loved ones who went before him, all the glory of nature he loved, and in the arms of God, who blessed him here on Earth. He was loved and will be missed very much.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Lillian, Rena, Mabel, Deborah, Hillary, Arthur and Zelton.
Mr. Davis leaves behind his wife of almost 67 years, Stella Tomlinson Davis; their children, Troy Davis and his wife, Gayle, Larry Davis and his wife, Debbie, and Linda Davis Powell and her husband, Andreu, all of Fernandina Beach; his last remaining sibling, a brother, Roy Davis of Callahan; five grandchildren, Christopher Davis (Melissa), Brian Davis, Dana Severidt (Nick), Matthew Davis (Sarah) and Kyle Davis; six great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Gehrig, Ethan, Madison, Walker and Ansley; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with Pastor Rob Goyette officiating.
Mr. Davis will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery.
His family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Oxley-Heard.
Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors