Jefferson W. Davis, 58, husband of Ellen Small Davis, passed away peacefully May 8, at Merrimack Valley Hospice House, surrounded by family and friends.
Born in Haverhill Feb. 7, 1959, he was the son of the late Allan V.V. and Jean (Westerman) (Davis) Vass. Following his graduation from Haverhill High School, class of 1977, Davis continued his education graduating from Nasson College in 1981. He then joined the Hershey Corp. working as a regional sales representative for five years. In 1986, Jefferson began a distinguished and successful 31-year career as a real estate broker working for his uncle at the King Davis Agency, now Coldwell Banker, in Haverhill. He excelled in the sale of both residential and commercial properties.
For years Jefferson enthusiastically served the Greater Haverhill community and was honored by an impressive list of titles, positions and honorary awards such as director of Pentucket Bank; trustee of Linwood Cemetery; trustee of Greater Haverhill Foundation; trustee of Women’s Benevolent Society of Lawrence; former Treasurer of Haverhill YMCA; member, trustee and usher of First Baptist Church; past board chairman of Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce; past president and Paul Harris Fellow recipient of Haverhill Rotary Club; member of the Griffin White Foundation; member of Essex/Fortnightly Club of Greater Haverhill; member of Merrimack Lodge F. & A.M.; member Crescent Yacht Club; and former member of Team Haverhill.
While endeavoring to establish and develop his business, Davis earned the respect and admiration of those with whom he came in contact. Jefferson was also recognized as Realtor of the Year in 1995 by the Greater Haverhill Board of Realtors.
His support and dedication to his family was the focus of his life. He enjoyed boating with family and friends on “The Reel Escape,” skiing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and vacationing at Lake Winnipesaukee.
In addition to his wife of 28 years, he is survived by his sons, J. Westerman Davis Jr., esquire, and longtime girlfriend Jessica M. Barbone of Plaistow, N.H., Egan C. Davis and longtime girlfriend Meaghan Blanchard of Bradford, and Declan A. Davis of Bradford; sister, Julia Payson Davis Butters and her husband, Jeffrey of Atkinson, N.H.; father-in-law, John W. Small of Haverhill; uncle, Kingsbury “King” Davis and Aunt Suzanne “Tudy” Davis of Haverhill; aunt Janice Westerman Johns of Sedona, Ariz.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service Tuesday, May 16, 10 a.m., at First Baptist Church, 217 Main St., Haverhill. Burial in Linwood Cemetery is private. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to the Allan V.V. Davis Memorial Award c/o Haverhill Rotary Club, P.O. Box 808, Haverhill, MA 01831, or the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 Merrimack Street, Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843, or MGH Cancer Center in support of Thoracic Oncology Quality of Life research led by Dr. Jennifer Temel. Gifts may be made online at www.massgeneral.org/donate or mailed to the MGH Development Office, attention: Carrie Powers, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. Checks should be made payable to Massachusetts General Hospital. Arrangements under the direction of Dole, Childs and Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main St., Haverhill.
Jefferson was as good as they come…..his love of family, work and community was #1 with him…..