Bishop Allen Davis, Sr.

Bishop Lew Allen Davis, Sr., age 91, of Cleveland passed away peacefully at his home Monday evening, January 23rd after an extended illness. He was born October 17, 1920 in Brosley, Missouri to the late Walter Emitt and Alta Lane Davis. Bishop Davis spent his childhood in the "Knobbs" community of western Kentucky, near Owensboro. Called into ministry at a young age, he was licensed with the Church of God of Prophecy in 1940 and accepted his first pastorate at his home church, "Knobbs". He later pastored in Louisville, Kentucky (Larkwood & 21st & Main congregations). In 1947, he accepted the call to pastor the Ridgedale Church of God of Prophecy in Chattanooga, a tenure which lasted 13 years. In 1960, he was appointed International Director of Sunday School Ministries for the organization and moved to Cleveland. After traveling extensively for six years in this ministry, he was transitioned to the position of State Overseer or Presiding Bishop for the state of Missouri. He served as Presiding Bishop for Ohio (1970-74); Virginia (1974-1981); and Georgia (1981-1990). He also served on various state and international committees for the organization. Records show him as one of the longest tenured Bishops in the church being ordained October 26, 1945. After serving in Georgia, he retired from appointment but continued in active ministry holding revivals and serving as a conference speaker in many locations. Bishop Davis had the heart of an evangelist and was well loved for his wit and innovative method of preaching the Gospel. He was driven with compassion to serve people and visited hundreds on a regular basis until his health failed two years ago. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mildred Beasley Davis, in May, 2011. In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by his sister, Nelda Lee Davis; four brothers and one sister, all who died in infancy. He is survived by daughter Londa Richardson and husband Dwight of Cleveland, TN; son Allen Davis, Jr. and wife Leecy of Chattanooga, TN; two grandsons, Jeremi Richardson and wife, Amy of Orlando, FL and Tyler Richardson, of Cleveland; and two great-granddaughters, Ariah and Shalom Richardson. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Peerless Road Church of God of Prophecy with General Overseer, Randall E. Howard; TN Presiding Bishop, E.C. McKinley; Bishop Lanny Carter and Pastor Brian Sutton officiating. The body will lie in state from 10-11 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Bishop Paul Horton and Bishop Ron Bryant officiating. Jeremi Richardson, Tyler Richardson, Dewayne Hamby, Wade Patterson, Norman Wojcik, and Steve Spears will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends tonight from 5-8 at Grissom Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.grissomfh.net.