Former Long-Time Oxford Municipal Court Public Defender Dies at 72

Richard “Rick” Charles Davis, 72, died Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the Mississippi State Veteran’s Home in Oxford.

The funeral service will be held Monday, April 22, 2019, at 2 p.m. at College Hill Presbyterian Church in Oxford with the Rev. Justin McGuire officiating. Burial will follow in College Hill Cemetery. The visitation will be held prior to the service at the church from noon until service time.

Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rick Davis

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Davis served in the Corps of Engineers in the United States Army. He was a graduate of Thornwell High School at Thornwell Orphanage in Clinton, South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics at The Citadel (the Military College of South Carolina) and Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Law School in Oxford.

In 1987, he was hired as the public defender for the Oxford Municipal Court, a position he held for 31 years before he retired in April 2018.

In March 2016, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma — an aggressive form of brain cancer and had a lemon-sized tumor removed; however, he continued to work as much as he could before stepping down last year.

Davis was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Oxford for 43 years, the Jaycees of Oxford (where he was named Outstanding Young Man in 1977) and Salvation Army since 1975 (serving for 43 years and former Chairman of the Advisory Board). He was also a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church in Oxford where he served as Elder and Ruling Elder for seven years. He was an avid runner who enjoyed concerts, traveling and Christian music but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Davis is survived by his wife, Jan Davis of Oxford; daughters, Kathryn Salazar of Oxford, Haley Watkins of Austin, Texas and Abby Davis of Oxford; son, Patrick Davis of Las Vegas; sisters, Beverly Smith of Estero, FL, Catherine Walters of Kentucky, Rebecca “Beckie” Hudman of Plano, Texas; brothers, Danny Davis of Michigan and Ted Davis of Kentucky; adoptive sister, Donna Fisher of Oxford; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and he was a mentor to Jermaine Malone of Oxford.

Special thanks to the V.A. home where they enjoyed their time making memories, eating ice-cream and reading the bible.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Davis’ memory may be made to College Hill Presbyterian Church, 339 CR 102, Oxford, MS 38655.

Courtesy of Waller Funeral Home