Joel Kenneth Davis

Joel Kenneth Davis was born on July 6, 1932 in LaGrange, Georgia. His parents were Henry Liles Davis Sr. and Isabelle Thompson Davis. He was the fifth of six children, with three brothers and two sisters, Raymond, Ralph, Virginia, Henry Jr., and Faye. Joel was the last surviving member of the family.

Joel left high school to work in a cotton mill alongside his father and three older brothers. He worked there until the start of the Korean War, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his term in the military, he returned to LaGrange for a time, but later found a job in Birmingham, AL working for Chicago Bridge & Iron, a company specialized in building water towers and other large scale metal structures. In Birmingham he attended Westend Baptist Church where he met his future wife, Wilma Cooper. They married on May 25, 1963, and eventually had two sons Kenneth Davis in 1965, and Keith Davis in 1968.

Joel began his long career in church work at Crestway Baptist Church and later at Lakewood Baptist Church, both in Birmingham. He served as Minister of Music at these churches, leading hymns during the services, directing the choir, and planning musicals for Easter and Christmas. He had a great passion for church music and loved to sing. He was especially known for the songs Beulah Land and I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy.

In 1973, his employer, CBI, transferred him to Memphis, TN, and there he served at Balmoral Baptist Church. He held the position of “Interim” Minister of Music for eight years, until he was transferred again to Atlanta, GA. He was invited to help with a new mission church meeting in two trailers on Annistown Rd. He served as Minister of Music at Annistown for many years as it grew into a thriving church. After a short retirement from music work, he later accepted another position at Annistown as Pastor to Senior Adults. At the time he was ordained as a pastor, one of the highest honors of his life.

Joel was a man of deep Christian faith. He loved the Lord with a tremendous passion that came through in his singing and his service in the church. If there was any sort of service going on at the church, Joel would be there, including worship services, Bible study, choir practice, deacons’ meetings, and visitation. He had a tremendous work ethic, holding down two jobs for almost his entire career. Every time he retired from one job he would find another to start. He loved finding new ways to serve and help people. In his later years, as his health declined, one of the hardest things for him to accept was needing help instead of helping others. He loved golf, Atlanta Braves baseball, and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. He loved his family most of all, his beloved wife Wilma, his sons Kenneth and Keith, and his two grandchildren Andrew Davis and Rebecca Davis.

Joel Davis is survived by his wife Wilma Cooper Davis, son Kenneth Ted Davis, daughter-in-law Tina Kinkead Davis, son Brian Keith Davis, grandson Andrew Davis, granddaughter Rebecca Davis, and many nieces and nephews.

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