Deacon Joseph Derwin Davis

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Deacon Joseph Derwin Davis, 60, of Waycross, completed his mission and transitioned from earth to his home in glory on Saturday, January 8, 2022. 

Deacon Davis was born to the late Bettye Davis Philpot and Joe Hines on October 18, 1961. He was educated in the Ware County School System and graduated from Waycross High School in 1979. After graduation, he furthered his education at Waycross-Ware Technical School, now called Coastal Pines Technical College, majoring in welding.  

At an early age, he loved the Lord and joined Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Patterson, GA. The call on his life was strong and recognized by others in the church.  This call caused him to be ordained as a deacon under the leadership of the late Pastor Thomas Smith Jr. in 1988. He was a faithful, active member of the church and served as Chairman of the Deacon Board until his demise. Deacon Davis had many gifts and talents and used them to the glory of God.  He was the director and member of the Macedonia Senior Choir for many years; one of the co-founders and directors of the Tri-County Mass Choir; and he served as the financial secretary of the Great Eastern Missionary Baptist Association.

He believed that a man’s hands should not be idle. He believed in working to support his family and himself and was gainfully employed by Waycross Molded Products for over 20 years until the company closed its doors. Later, he worked as the shipping/receiving manager at Flanders for 16 years, where he was still employed at the time of his death.

Deacon Davis married his soulmate, his sweetheart, the love of his life, his one and only wife, Mary Lynn Mayo Davis, on September 5, 1987.

He was affectionately called “Joe” by many and “Derwin” by others. One of his favorite assignments in life that was dear to his heart is one which he felt was given to him by God.  That assignment was working at Rainge Memorial Chapel, Inc., as the right-hand man of his friend, the owner, Mr. Carlton Rainge. The two formed a great working relationship while at Marshall Funeral Home of Blackshear, GA for two years (2003-2005). When Mr. Rainge decided to pursue his dream of owning his own funeral home in 2005, Joe left Marshall Funeral Home and went to work at Rainge Memorial. He was one of the group of men who went with Mr. Rainge to Florida to pick up the initial fleet of Rainge funeral vehicles. Joe’s love of and passion for helping others made him a perfect fit for the funeral business. He was appointed by Mr. Rainge as the General Manager at Rainge Memorial Chapel Inc. until Mr. Rainge’s earthly journey ended in 2019.

Deacon Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Bettye Davis Philpot and Joe Hines; a son, Derwin Eugene Davis; his twin sister, Joan Denissa Davis; maternal grandmother, Susie (Leroy) Davis; his aunt, Annie Pearl Maloy and his uncle, James Leroy Davis (Stag).

Those left to cherish his memory and continue his legacy include his loving and devoted wife of 34 years, Mary Lynn Mayo Davis; a son, DeAndre (LaToya) Muchison of Virginia; four grandchildren, Trinity Muchison, JaDon Muchison, Gavin Muchison and Kyrie Muchison; a god-daughter Aisha Ashley; his siblings, Gary Davis, Patterson, GA, Timothy (Tamica) Davis, Washington, DC, Christopher (Lussa) Philpot, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Christina (Wilfredo) Ashley, Grovetown, GA, Stephen Philpot, Stone Mountain, GA, Teisha (Marshall) Rainge, Grovetown, GA, Elizabeth Reynolds Augusta, GA, Jerlean Hines,  and Thelma Hines, both of Jesup, GA, Brenda Hines-Hunter, Enterprise, AL,  Joe (Carolyn) Hines, New Castle, DE, Gilbert (Gale) Hines, Jacksonville, FL,  Mary (Garry) Minniefield, North Augusta, SC, Chainal Hines, Screven, GA, Tonya Hines Opelika, AL; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Anthony (Tonya) Mayo, Jacksonville, FL, Harrietta (Nehemiah) Rountree, and Russell (Viejah) Mayo, both of Waycross, GA and Charlotte (Michael) Mayo-Burse, Columbus, GA; cousins, John Maloy and Nichelle Maloy, both of Atlanta, GA; a very special cousin and brother, Deacon Raymond Lincoln; and a host of nieces and nephews that loved him dearly as Uncle Derv.

A walk-through visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Rainge Memorial Chapel, 505 Ware St., Blackshear, Ga., 31516. Masks must be worn.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at Oakland Cemetery, 2410 Alice St, Waycross, GA. 31501.

Condolences may be expressed at www.raingememorialchapelinc.com. 

Rainge Memorial Chapel, Inc., of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements

No entry without mask.