Ernest Woodrow Davis Sr. of Southern Pines died Tuesday, May 7, 2019, in his home.
He was born in Hoke County on September 17, 1919, to Ernest Jasper Davis and Mary Catherine
Campbell Davis. He was preceded in death by five siblings.
He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Charlotte Holt Davis of Southern Pines; a son, Ernest W. (Woody) Davis Jr. and
JoAnne of Southern Pines; a daughter, Linda Davis Covington of Southern Pines; three grandchildren, James Edwin (Ned)
Covington III and wife, Laura, Shannon Davis Viall and husband, Russell, and Bradley Davis Covington and wife, Laura;
five great-grandchildren, James and Matthew Covington, Ella, Gretchen and Norah Viall; and several nieces and nephews.
He was a member of the United Methodist churches in Raeford, Rockingham, and Southern Pines where he served in
the life of the church through leadership roles with the men's groups and on various church committees. In recent years,
you could find him every Sunday listening to televised services in his favorite chair with his favorite person.
He was a member of the Southern Pines Masonic Lodge #484 for 67 years, the Oasis Shriners of Charlotte and the
Woodsmen of the World in Southern Pines.
As an avid outdoorsman, he spent his younger years enjoying baseball as a player, pitcher and coach. Fishing, hunting
and golf were hobbies he loved with family and friends, especially when it involved teaching his son, grandsons and
great-grandsons to fish. He loved spending time in his garden, caring for his horse, Cody, and enjoying family time with
his great-grandchildren.
He began his distinguished career in the late 1930s with the US Forestry Service in Washington and Oregon.
Upon returning to North Carolina in the early 1940s, he began a 37-year commitment to the North Carolina Division of
Forestry. He served as a County Ranger, District Ranger, Regional Ranger and State Ranger, with a primary expertise in
fire control. His strong background in construction lead to a leadership role in the building of the forestry training center
in Linville Falls and many other forestry facilities throughout the state.
While he was known for his work ethic and kindness, it is his love and devotion to his family that will be
remembered and missed the most, from working long hours to support his family, to bringing Smokey the Bear to his
grandchildren's birthday parties and building his great-grandchildren a sandbox at the age of 96.
Visitation will be 3-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Crumpler Funeral Home in Raeford. The
funeral will follow at 4 p.m. at the Crumpler Funeral Home Chapel in Raeford. Burial will be in the Raeford
Cemetery with Masonic rites.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Foundation of FirstHealth, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374 or by phone at 910.695.7500
The family will receive condolences at www.crumplerfuneralhome.com.
He was born in Hoke County on September 17, 1919, to Ernest Jasper Davis and Mary Catherine
Campbell Davis. He was preceded in death by five siblings.
He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Charlotte Holt Davis of Southern Pines; a son, Ernest W. (Woody) Davis Jr. and
JoAnne of Southern Pines; a daughter, Linda Davis Covington of Southern Pines; three grandchildren, James Edwin (Ned)
Covington III and wife, Laura, Shannon Davis Viall and husband, Russell, and Bradley Davis Covington and wife, Laura;
five great-grandchildren, James and Matthew Covington, Ella, Gretchen and Norah Viall; and several nieces and nephews.
He was a member of the United Methodist churches in Raeford, Rockingham, and Southern Pines where he served in
the life of the church through leadership roles with the men's groups and on various church committees. In recent years,
you could find him every Sunday listening to televised services in his favorite chair with his favorite person.
He was a member of the Southern Pines Masonic Lodge #484 for 67 years, the Oasis Shriners of Charlotte and the
Woodsmen of the World in Southern Pines.
As an avid outdoorsman, he spent his younger years enjoying baseball as a player, pitcher and coach. Fishing, hunting
and golf were hobbies he loved with family and friends, especially when it involved teaching his son, grandsons and
great-grandsons to fish. He loved spending time in his garden, caring for his horse, Cody, and enjoying family time with
his great-grandchildren.
He began his distinguished career in the late 1930s with the US Forestry Service in Washington and Oregon.
Upon returning to North Carolina in the early 1940s, he began a 37-year commitment to the North Carolina Division of
Forestry. He served as a County Ranger, District Ranger, Regional Ranger and State Ranger, with a primary expertise in
fire control. His strong background in construction lead to a leadership role in the building of the forestry training center
in Linville Falls and many other forestry facilities throughout the state.
While he was known for his work ethic and kindness, it is his love and devotion to his family that will be
remembered and missed the most, from working long hours to support his family, to bringing Smokey the Bear to his
grandchildren's birthday parties and building his great-grandchildren a sandbox at the age of 96.
Visitation will be 3-4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Crumpler Funeral Home in Raeford. The
funeral will follow at 4 p.m. at the Crumpler Funeral Home Chapel in Raeford. Burial will be in the Raeford
Cemetery with Masonic rites.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Foundation of FirstHealth, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374 or by phone at 910.695.7500
The family will receive condolences at www.crumplerfuneralhome.com.