Jesse B. Davis Jr.

Buddy was born and raised in Lakewood, a neighborhood located in southeast Atlanta, GA. He attended Fulton High School, where he played football, baseball and was a member of ROTC. It was there that he also met his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Bo.

After high school, Buddy served stateside in the United States Army during the Korean War. Later, he owned and operated a successful truck body manufacturing business, J.B. Davis & Son, with his father, and later his son. He was an active member of the community, serving as a Jaycee, where he held many local and state offices. His work as a Jaycee introduced him to the Boys Club of America, where he fell in love with the sport of boxing and founded the Georgia Amateur Boxing Association (GABA). Buddy served as the GABA president for 50+ years while pursuing his life-long quest of helping young men and women gain the tools they needed for successful and productive lives. Under his oversight, the GABA produced four US Olympian boxers, countless national champions and the former four time heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Additionally, Buddy held numerous national offices and served as team manager for several international competitions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse B., Sr. and Pansey Viola Davis; sister, Peggy Johnson; and wife of 61 years, Barbara “Bo” Davis.

Buddy is survived by his two children, Doug and Denise; five grandchildren, Samuel, Brittany (Jordan), Andrew, Thomas (Dana), and Maxwell (Joan); six great grandchildren, and countless boys and girls of the Georgia Boxing Community, whom he considered his own.

A visitation of family and friends will be held for Jesse on Monday, November 28, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home - Fairview Chapel | 376 Fairview Road Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A celebration of his life will occur Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Ward's Chapel. Services will conclude with a graveside committal at Fairview Memorial Gardens | 164 Fairview Road Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. A reception will immediately follow the services and will be held at the home of Denise Boutwell.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.horisawardfairviewchapel.com for the Davis family.