Wyatt J. Davis Jr.
Wyatt J. Davis Jr., long-time resident of Laurel, died Monday, March 4, 2024 in Trinity Healthcare Center in Columbus. He was born in Louisville on Sept. 1, 1931, to Wyatt J. Davis Sr. and Claudie Clark Davis.
He is survived by his brother Jim C. Davis and wife Janice of Columbus; nephew Marvin Smith of Richmond, Texas along with his wife Kathy and children David, Emily and Thomas; nephew Tim Smith of Brandon, along with his wife Teresa and daughter Rachel; and niece Courtenay McAllister of Memphis, along with her husband Tom and children Sarah Davis, Wyatt Thomas and John Will.
Wyatt grew up In Louisville and graduated from Louisville High School in 1949. He attended East Central Junior College, 1949-’50, and then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War 1951-’52 in the 31st “Dixie” Division. He then graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in accounting in 1955, after which he was employed by Alexander Smith Carpet Industries in Greenville. In Greenville, he met and married Dorothy “Dot” Barnes Ely on Oct. 13, 1956.
In 1960, he and Dot moved to Laurel, where he became the first controller at Sanderson Farms, Inc. Wyatt was employed at Sanderson Farms, 1960-’94 when he retired as secretary, treasurer and CFO.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Laurel, National Association of Accountants, Post 62 of American Legion, Southeastern Poultry and Egg Association, Mississippi Poultry Improvement Association, MSU Development Foundation, 31st Infantry “Dixie” Division Society, East Central Community College Warrior Club, MSU Bulldog Club, Committee of One Hundred and Laurel Exchange Club.
The funeral service will be at Memory Chapel in Laurel on Friday, March 8, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be immediately preceding the service from 10-11 a.m. A graveside service will follow in Louisville at 3 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Sanderson, Mike Cockrell, Lampkin Butts, Dr. John Wallace, Billy Sumrall and Charles Pickering.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to First Baptist Church of Laurel or MSU Development Foundation would be preferred. The family thanks the staff of Trinity Healthcare for the tender care given to Wyatt.
To sign the online guestbook, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.
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