James G. Davis Jr.

Mr. James G. Davis Jr., 78, went home to be with his Lord Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, at Bright Glade Convalescent Center. He will be joining loved ones who preceded him in heaven including his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Davis Sr.; two sisters, LaVerne Greer and Marie Armstrong; and a and brother, Hale Davis.

Born in Heber Springs in 1935, Jim Davis graduated from Heber Springs High School in 1953, completed pre-Pharmacy at Central Arkansas University in Conway and graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy in 1958 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Jim opened his first pharmacy in 1960 and subsequently owned several stores in Arakansas and Tennessee. He developed and managed four out-patient pharmacies for UTMG: UT Bould, UT Pauline, UT Wolfchase, and UT LeBonheur. He developed a formulation for a research project to treat stress fractures and was published in a medical journal for his successes.

He partnered with Walter Lafferty to develop on of the first free-standing computer systems with drug store application. Pharmacy was Jim's first love, but he was also a true entrepreneur. As a partner, he developed and owned seven nursing homes which were sold to Humana. He built the building at 66 N. Pauline in Memphis which was sold to UTMG. He built apartment complexes, shopping centers, the first residential subdivision in Olive Branch, Miss., owned a restaurant, a flower shop, a daycare, operated two real-estate franchises in Olive Branch, and built and operated a Holiday Inn Express in Heber Springs.

Not all of Jim's enterprises were successful, but it was the challenge of putting them together, sometimes against great odds, that was the continual appeal to him. Even in his last days, he joked with his longtime friend and partner, John Drinnon, that they should open another store.

As a civic-minded humanitarian, Dr. Davis served on the board of directors and as president of Grace House, a drug and rehabilitation facility for women. He also served for 22 years on the City of Memphis Pension Board.

A longtime member of Bellevue Baptist Church, Jim recently was a charter member and deacon at Crossroad Baptist Church where he was also an active member of the Berean Sunday School class.

The family would especially like to thank the staff at Bright Glade for their compassionate and loving care.

Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years, Emily;

A daughter Becky (and Mike) Parrish;

A son, Jimmy Davis; and

The loves of his life, his grandchildren, Michael, Preston, and Kathleen Parrish and Jessica Davis.

Visitation will be from noon-2 p.m. today at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary with service following at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.