Raymond Ellis Davis

Raymond Ellis (Ray) Davis of Henrico passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital and was 73 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Raymond (Jack) Davis and Kathryn Ellis Hooper Davis of Bowling Green. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Catherine Lucas Davis; his daughter, Kathryn Roslyn Davis Calvert and his granddaughter, Isabella Grace Calvert of Cornelius, North Carolina; sisters, Nancy Allan Davis Cannon of Huntington Beach, California and Kathryn Lloyd Davis Burchell (Garland) of Bowling Green as well as several nephews and nieces and two Godchildren.

Mr. Davis was a native of Bowling Green and had lived in the Richmond area, southwest Virginia, Tennessee and briefly in Texas as a child. Ray graduated from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham and went to Roanoke College, earning a degree in Economics. While at college, Ray worked two summers as an intern reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. At college he was Archon of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi; editor of the college newspaper; member of the Blue Key National Honor Society and was named to Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges. After graduation and working briefly for a bank and an insurance company, Mr. Davis received a Juris Doctorate degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond; a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University and earned his Certified Public Accountant designation.

Ray served in the US Army Reserve from 1965-1972 and was honorably discharged as a Specialist 6th Class. Mr. Davis spent his early career practicing law in Richmond, Roanoke and Salem prior to beginning his corporate counsel career of more than 14 years in the coal industry representing three coal companies in southwest Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. After that corporate experience, Mr. Davis returned to private law practice in the Roanoke area. Ray taught accounting at National Business College there and was acting head of the accounting department. He also taught economics and business law at Averett University undergraduate and in the MBA program until 2007. In 1994, Ray joined the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ senior staff as the Director of Administration and Chief Financial Officer where he worked until his retirement in June, 2010.

Mr. Davis was a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute and was appointed by Governor Gilmore to the Council on Technology Services for two terms serving on its Executive Committee. Ray was a statutory administrative hearing officer from 1989 to 2017 for the Virginia Supreme Court. He was a Mason in the Taylor Lodge No. 23 AF & AM in Salem, was a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and an Episcopalian. Ray loved sports and followed his favorite major league teams, Green Bay Packers and New York Yankees, as well as all of the ACC college teams. Ray will be remembered by his family and friends for his dry wit and loyalty to those close to him. He also enjoyed his many pets, dogs and cats, which he treasured.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Woody Funeral Home – Parham Chapel, 1771 North Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23229, with a reception following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Ray had requested that donations be made in his memory to the Richmond SPCA at Robins-Starr Humane Center, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220.

Online condolences may be made at www.woodyfuneralhomeparham.com