Alice Davis Gillis

Alice Davis Gillis was born in Tampa, Florida on December 30, 1925, as the daughter of Alice Dancy and Chaires Davis. She had four siblings whom she survived: Juliana Wilson, Elise Davis, Chaires Davis, Jr., and Betty Griffin.

As a young adult, Alice’s adventurous spirit led her to study aviation in Coral Springs and explore modeling in New York City, where she met and married Chester Gillis on April 19, 1947. They returned to Jacksonville to build a life together and raise three sons: Mark, Doug, and Michael.

As well as being a mother, she held various jobs, including working for Cathedral Health Center and helping her son and daughter-in-law with their bookkeeping business. Perhaps her favorite job was with the Jacksonville Convention Bureau, where she was able to work many local events, including the annual Kingfish Tournament. A lifelong lover of the arts, she also volunteered as an usher at Jacksonville’s performing arts center, attending musicals and performances whenever possible.

After she retired, she and Chester moved to Pablo Towers, treasuring their proximity to the beach. In her later years, she enjoyed playing Wii bowling and chair volleyball because she loved laughing with her peers.

Known for her eagle-eyed attention to detail, sharp mind, and kind and loving nature, Alice radiated a zest for life. At her core was her faith. She was baptized at and remained a life-long member of St. John’s Cathedral, a place where she and her husband raised their children and formed their strongest friendships and memories.

Alice passed away on January 21, 2025. She is survived by her sons, Doug and Michael, and her grandchildren - Heather, Ian, Cristina, Alex, Sydney, Elliot, and Aimee - along with in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, cousins and friends.

A funeral service and reception will be held at 11 a.m. on March 1st at St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PT Boats Inc. or St. John’s Cathedral of Jacksonville.