State Rep. Grace W. Davis, 72, 'One of Murphy's Favorites'

Grace W. Davis represented the 48th District of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1987 until 1996. Davis died on Sun., May 1, after a long illness.

“I will really miss Grace Davis’ presence," said Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), the current Georgia State Representative from the 63rd District. "She was truly a loyal public servant and a really effective lawmaker. Grace ended up representing a lot of people over her ten year career in the legislature. Whomever she was representing at any given time, she represented them well.”

Davis, a Democrat, grew up in Sumter County outside of Americus. She worked in New York City before returning to Georgia in the late 1960s to work for WAOK Radio.

Davis served in the Georgia State legislature from 1987 until 1996. She was a very good lawmaker and “surprisingly,” said Brooks, was “one of Speaker Tom Murphy’s favorites.”

 "She was committed to her cause and community," Long-time State Representative Calvin Smyre, also a House Appropriations committee member, said of of Davis. "Grace was a good negotiator, a quick learned and quick on her feet.”  

Murphy, himself, had the reputation of being tough, irascible, and not always the easiest of politicians with whom to work.  “Tom Murphy really respected Grace’s dedication to her district,” Smyre said.

During her tenure as state representative, she was the Vice Chairman of the Human Relations and Aging Committee as well as a member of the World Congress Center Overview Committee. She was, perhaps particularly well qualified for the latter as she also worked, in a full-time capacity, at various times as bookkeeper, accountant and controller at WAOK Radio.

In recalling his long year legislative association with Davis, Smyre went on to say that “Grace could be feisty. She had a lot of fight in her, but in a good way. She delivered for her constituents,” he said emphatically.  

“I first met Grace back in the 1970’s,” related Brooks. "At the time, I was working as Field  Director for SCLC. I was asked by Hosea Williams to join the picket lines with Grace and a number of others, who were picketing WAOK over the lack of career opportunities and promotions for their minority employees. Grace and I were friends ever since. She was really committed to the cause of civil rights as well as to her community. She also was a strong influence on the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) of which we were both members."

Grace Davis is preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Davis, Sr. Survivors include her son, Curtis Davis, Jr. (Louvonia), grandchildren, Tushanda and Terrod Davis; 2 great grandchildren; brother, Edward Wilkerson; other relatives and friends.

Her Celebration of Life will be held at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 1150 Westview Dr., at 11:00 a.m.. Saturday, May 7.

Interment is Mon., May, 9 in Americus, Georgia. Arrangements are being handled by Murray Brothers.