Grover Lee Davis, Jr.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Psalm 37:34. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, god-father, and brother quietly closed the book on this life and went home to our Heavenly Father on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at the age of 83 years. Grover, affectionately called “Son”, was born November 14, 1929 in Wisner, Louisiana, the son of the late Grover L. Davis, Sr. and Julia Ellis Davis. Grover came to Saginaw seeking employment. However, he found the love of his life, Berta Lee Harris. This union was blessed with six children. Mr. Davis was a Corporal in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. He retired from the Grey Iron Casting Plant in 1982 and was a member of the U.A.W. Local #668. After retirement, he rested a little while, then began working for the Antioch Baptist Church Charter Bus Company, which he really enjoyed because he believed he could drive anything that had wheels. He also worked for the City of Saginaw School District as a Bus Driver and volunteered as a Bus Driver for Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Grover was a faithful member of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church for 40 years. He was ordained as a Deacon on April 8, 1973, under the leadership of Rev. Roosevelt Mosley, Sr. He served as the Chairman of the Deacon Board, served on the Senior Usher Board, as a Teacher for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Bible Study; and was also a Boy Scout Troop Leader. He participated in several of St. Paul’s choirs, and was currently a member of the Male Chorus. Grover was a 33° (33 degree) Mason of International Free and Accepted Modern Masons where he served as the Past District Master of District #8 and the Worshipful Master of King James Lodge #109, Saginaw MI. His hobbies were mechanics – at the age of 10 he knew how to rebuild engines; gardening, crossword puzzles, and astrology – he was a star gazer and found the elements of God’s creation fascinating. He loved God’s Word, reading the Bible and discussing God’s Word was his favorite. Grover had the ability to hold a conversation on any given subject at any given time. He loved nature and enjoyed singing. Short and Long meters were his favorite. All through the day you could hear him singing the old Zion songs such as, Amazing Grace; A Charge to Keep; I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry; I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say; Keep Me Every Day, etc. Grover was a 'business is business' type person, but enjoyed having a good time and a good laugh. He was mostly concerned about if you knew Christ and worked daily on introducing Christ to others. For he knew if you met him and forgot him, you had lost nothing. But if you met Jesus Christ and forgot Him, you had lost everything. Mr. Davis leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife, Berta Lee (Sweetie) Davis; his children, Alga Smith, Jr., Marquietta Davis, TeVeldia Lyle (Bruce Bailey), Yolanda (Eugene) McGee, and Grover L. Davis III, all of Saginaw and Evon (Paul) Credit of Jackson, MS; one god-daughter, Michele Brown Douglas; 14 grandchildren, Felicia Thomas, Alga Smith III, Anquonn Smith, Ervin Smith, Anthony Lyle, Jr., Zephaniah Davis, Javaris Lyle, Thurman Stanton II, Tangena McGee Davis, Grover L. Davis IV, Elijah Cooper, and Sandrana Cooper, all of Saginaw, and Sergio Thomas of Flint; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Othineil Bridges of Hammond, LA; three sisters, OC Whiting and Juanita Smith of Saginaw, and Marie Lewis of Monroe, LA; one aunt, Matilda Humphrey, Beaumont TX; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, including two special nephews, Kary L. Dickens and Larry L. Whiting and many other relatives and friends. Grover was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Julia Davis; stepmother, Lettie Davis; mother-in law, Judy A. Harris; one son, Reed E. Smith; two sisters, Ollie Sledge and Angela Davis; and many other relatives. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2013 at St. Paul Baptist Church, 120 North 15th Street. Rev. Vincent McMillon, Pastor. Minister Thurman Stanton II will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. where the Masonic Lodge will conduct their service at 6:00 p.m. (weather permitting).

Grover Lee Davis, Jr.

November 14, 1929 - February 21, 2013