Denard William Davis

Denard retired in 1996 as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Affirmative Action Officer of the Merced County Office of Education, after 31 years of service.

Denard founded the Black Businessmen of Merced County, Black Educators of Merced County, Concerned Men Cook and was a founding member of Merced Optimist Club. He served for years as the president of an African-American investment group which provided affordable housing to residents in South Merced. He was the chairman of Merced Community Gang Awareness Task Force, and has chaired Merced County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, and Merced City Parks and Recreation.

Denard was the holder of general elementary, junior high, secondary, and administration life credentials, and was a DJ with KLBS Radio with “Mr. D’s Soul Train.”

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne Davis; daughters, Donna Davis (Merced, CA), and Dorma Davis (Atlanta, GA); son-in-law, Tori Eva (Merced, CA); sister, Merlyn A. Thomas (New Orleans, LA); grandchildren, LaDonna Davis-Turner, Stephanie Davis, Enam Denard Davis-Eva; and great-grandchild, Nathaniel Davis.

He is preceded in death by his father, Louis L. Antoine and mother, Lillie B. Antoine.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B Street, Merced, Ca. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Apostolic Tabernacle, 2745 Highway 140, Merced, California. Burial will be private at a later date at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.