Davis, Royal G.

Royal Garland Davis, 84, of Church Road, VA, died Wednesday, August 13, 2008. A native of Church Road, Garland was retired President of R.G. Davis and Sons, Inc., spending his working years as a farmer. He was a member of the “greatest generation,” proudly serving in the Navy during WWII aboard the USS Pitt. He was Past Master of Dinwiddie Lodge #136, A.F. & A.M., Past President of Wilson-Hebron-Ford Ruritan Club and for 25 years was a Dinwiddie County ASCS board member. Garland was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 60 years, where he taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and held many leadership positions. He enjoyed working with youth and for many years coached church softball and little league baseball. Garland was a master mandolinist and tenor vocalist, performing in many bands for over 70 years. He especially loved bluegrass and sacred acoustic music. Most recently he had performed with the Gospel Road Express since 1978 and the Church Road Gospel Singers throughout the 1980s, making recordings with both groups. Garland was born October 10, 1923, to the late John Thomas and Lucy Ida Saunders Davis. He was the fourth of seven children, all of whom preceded him in death. Garland is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Eloise Allen Davis; four sons and three daughters -- Sarah Robertson (Jim), Grey Davis (Barbara), Wayne Davis (Augusta), Timmy Davis (Carole), all of Church Road, VA; Conry Davis (Paula) of Columbia, SC; Ida Price (Rich) of Colonial Heights, VA; and Frances Patrick (Jim) of Fort Knox, KY; fifteen grandchildren -- Jason, Kevin, Al, Ryan, Mary, Clayton, Megan, and Jennifer Davis; Leigh Ann Adams; Cindy Chandler; Jillian Price; Afton, Josh, Ginny, and Zack Patrick; and eight great-grandchildren -- McKenna Abbott; Jessica and Justin Davis; Jordan and Zack Adams; and Wil, Emalee and Logan Chandler. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, August 17th, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Church Road, VA, with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the church social hall following the service. Those unable to attend the funeral may pay their respects at J.T. Morris & Son Funeral Home in Petersburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas Palliative Care Center at the Medical College of Virginia or to a favorite charity. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com