James Muse Davis, Jr., 81, died December 20, 2022, at his home in Starkville, Mississippi.
Muse was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi on June 1, 1941, the third child of James Muse Davis and Annie Ward Davis. He attended school in Yazoo City, Ackerman, Eupora, and graduated Starkville High School in 1959. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He worked in the engineering firms of George B. Ramsey and Associates in Starkville, and Sullivan and Masson in both their Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona offices. His last secular employment was at the Mississippi State Physical Plant.
Muse was Baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church, Yazoo City, and Confirmed at Church of the Resurrection, Starkville in 1953. In 1980, he joined the Continuing Anglican movement at St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Tucson, Arizona. This led to the vocation closest to his heart. After a study module at Holy Rood Seminary, Liberty, N.Y., and directed studies in the early 1990’s, he was ordained to the priesthood on September 11, 2011. He served St. David’s Anglican Church at Mayhew as priest-in-charge and later rector until his retirement in 2018.
Muse was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Annie Louise Davis Shuttleworth. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Linda, and three children, Eliska Ward Counce (Doug, dec.) of McKinney, Texas, James Muse Davis III, MD, PhD. of Iowa City, Iowa, William Enoch Prince Davis (Kacy) of Jacksonville, Florida, three grandchildren, Jack, Jonah, and Juliet Counce, and a sister, Martha Davis Biles of Jackson, Mississippi.
Services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Welch Funeral Home.
Muse’s wish was that memorial gifts be made to St. David’s at Mayhew, Box 33, Mayhew, MS 39753; Beauvoir, 2244 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39531; Memorial Hall, 929 Camp St., New Orleans, Louisiana 70130; or the charity of your choice.
Dear Davis family, one of the saddest things someone can experience is the death of a loved one. Did you know the Bible compares death to sleep? (Psalms 13:3) Just as a person who is asleep is unaware of what is happening around him, the dead are not conscious of anything. There is a promise of hope in the Bible. Our loving God has promised to awaken the dead, as if from sleep, and give them life again. Acts 24:15 says, “There is going to be a resurrection.” The bible offers comfort for those who are grieving and I hope this brings you comfort as well.