Charles Duane "Duke" Davis

Charles Duane (Duke) Davis Sr., 92 years young, passed away April 27th 2021. He had lived a long and productive life. Mr. Davis was born September 1, 1928. He was a life-long resident of the Fontainebleau Community, Ocean Springs MS. He attended primary school at the Lyons School in Gautier, graduating from Ocean Springs High School in 1947. An active participant, he played in the school band and orchestra and pursued his favorite pastime-Football! A quarterback and kicker, He lettered all four years as a member of the Ocean Springs Greyhounds. Attending Perkinston Junior College (MGCCC), He also played saxophone in the band and orchestra before enlisting in the United States Army in 1950. As one of the last members of the Coast Artillery Corps, he attended basic training in anti-aircraft gunnery at Fort Bliss Texas and was assigned to duty at Fort Winfield Scott at the Presidio of San Francisco. In September 1951, he was selected to serve as a driver for the Turkish delegation attending the formal United Nations peace negotiations which officially ended hostilities and reestablished diplomatic relations with Japan. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal after service in the Korean War with the 31st Regimental Combat Team of the 7th Infantry Division. Upon being honorably discharged from the military, Mr. Davis worked for the International Paper Company in Moss Point before gaining employment as a letter carrier with the United States Postal Service in which he worked for 43 years in Ocean Springs. He was a member of Belle Fountain Baptist Church where he had served as deacon, treasurer, assistant treasurer, on the Board of Trustees and member of many church committees over the years. He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Beryl Louise Fountain Davis; his parents, Philip Lowell Davis Sr. and Carrie Louise Richter Davis; two brothers, Frank Roy Davis, Philip Lowell Davis Jr.; and two sisters, Carrie Louise Perry and Tillie Davis Roberts. Mr. Davis is survived by three sons, Charles Duane Davis Jr. (Muriel) of Ocean Springs, MS, Mark Howard Davis of Oxford, and Joseph Keith Davis (Selina) of Lucedale; seven grandsons, Allen Davis (Vanessa) Ocean Springs, Dean Davis, Midland Texas, Charlie Davis, New Orleans, LA, Cary Joe Davis, Orlando, FL, Jackson Davis, Spokane WA, Logan Davis, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA, Corin Davis, Mississippi State, Matthew Sturgill, Ocean Springs; and one granddaughter, Carmon Baxter (Michael), Mobile, AL; two great- granddaughters, Kyra Mae Davis and Phoebe Fuentes of Ocean Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family prefer donations be made to one of the following: The Salvation Army Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 1, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Or the charity of your choice. Visitation will be conducted at Belle Fountain Baptist Church, 7900 Fontainebleau Rd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 on Monday, May 3, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with a service to immediately follow. A livestream will be available at the time of service on Belle Fountain Baptist Church's Facebook page. Interment will be at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 4111 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Davis family.