Sumner Davis Obituary

Funeral services for longtime educator and coach Sumner Augustus "Gus" Davis II will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Starkville, Mississippi. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., with interment in the church columbarium. Mr. Davis, 78, was a devoted educator and coach in the Tuscaloosa City School System, where he taught commercial art at both the Tuscaloosa Area Vocational School and Central High School. He also served as an instructor of photography at Shelton State Community College. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Davis was a passionate advocate for youth athletics. He served for many years as a varsity soccer coach, supported the development of youth soccer programs in Tuscaloosa, and remained active as a referee. He was a member of the Alabama Education Association and participated faithfully in the Episcopal Church communities in both Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. A native of Talladega, Alabama, Mr. Davis graduated from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Alabama. Prior to relocating to Starkville in 2019, Mr. Davis resided in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Sumner Danforth Davis II and his wife, Geraldine Zeiders Davis. Survivors include his son, Sumner Danforth Davis III, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Davis, of Starkville; two sisters, Nancy Davis Bourne of Birmingham, Alabama, and Linda Davis Ledbetter and her husband, Lowell Ledbetter, of Dadeville, Alabama; two grandchildren, Griffin Davis and Addison Davis, both of Starkville; and numerous nieces and nephews.