James Parker Davis

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, March 28, 2008 at Asbury Methodist Church of Lafayette for James Parker "JP" Davis, 90, who passed away Monday March 24, 2008 at his home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed Thursday from 10:00am to 7:00pm at Delhomme Funeral Home and Friday from 8:00 am till time of services. Rev. Ed Boyd, Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church, and Mr. Al Franks will share in conducting the funeral services. Mr. Franks and his brother Masons will conduct the Masonic Funeral Services for Mr. Davis. Interment will be held at the Fountain Memorial Gardens. James Parker "JP" Davis was born September 5th, 1917 in Hobson, Texas to James L. and Lorena M. Davis, both members of pioneer families who helped settle Red River and Bowie Counties in northeast Texas. Educated in Texas public schools, he graduated from Brownfield High School at age fifteen in 1933 as salutatorian of his class and attended Texas Technological College in Lubbock, Texas. He married Marguerite Pauline Burnett on October 18, 1936. JP and Marguerite made Lafayette their home in 1948. Some of the many accomplishments of Mr. Davis were Real Estate Mortgage Loan Broker, Co-owner with his wife of 71 years, Jamar Builders, which specialized in the building of single-family homes, and subdivision development. He was President and Life Member of the Acadian Home Builders Association, a director of the Louisiana Home Builders Association, and a past director of the National Association of Home Builders. He later was employed by the Lafayette City/Parish Consolidated Government in its job training program, JTPA, and retired as a Contract Service Representative in 2001. In 1955, he and his wife, Marguerite, helped to organize what is now Asbury United Methodist Church. He was a Charter Member of the board and the first secretary of its Board of Stewards. He was raised a Master Mason in Brownfield Lodge No. 903, Brownfield, Texas in 1941. He was a Charter Member and Past Master of M.E. Girard Lodge No. 450 and Exemplar Lodge No. 471 of Lafayette, LA. He had the unique experience of being initiated into Lafayette Chapter No. 46, Order of the Eastern Star on December 8, 1955, in a class of three consisting of himself, his wife, Marguerite, and his daughter, Lorena Elaine Davis. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and had memberships in Lake Charles, LA Consistory, the Royal Arch Masons, Cryptic Masons, Knights Templar and was past presiding officer of all three Bodies. He was the Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Louisiana in 1986-87. Mr. Davis belonged to and helped organize many other Masonic organizations in the state of Louisiana. He was received and admitted a Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic shrine in Jerusalem Temple, New Orleans, on May 25, 1957, and became a member of the Evangeline Shrine Club in Lafayette shortly thereafter. He served as president in 1965, which was the year the present Mosque was built. Survivors include his daughter, Elaine Davis Scott and her husband Albert R. Scott of Maryland, and son James L. Davis II of Lafayette, LA.; five grandchildren, Michele S. Landry, Dr. James R. Landry and wife Jennifer, Matthew Parker Davis, Linda Stout and husband, Glenn Stout, and Sarah R. Broussard; seven great grandchildren, Sean Kohlhepp, and Julian M. Simmons, Michelle S. Sacks, Douglas Stout, Lisa Stout, Jessica Jean Giordano, and Jason A. Giorgano: five great, great grand children: Max and Nicholas Sacks, Emma Jade and Ella Joe Stout, and Brayden Stout. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Marguerite B. Davis; parents, James L. and Lorena Davis, and grand daughter Kimberly Kay Landry Kohlhepp. The family wishes to thank Mr. and Mrs. Davis' care givers, Marcelite Roy and Geraldine Pellerin. God sent you to them and you cared for them as if they were your own parents. There is a place in heaven just for you. Ms. Roy will sing Amazing Grace at the funeral which was a favorite hymn of JP and Marguerite. Pallbearers are James L. Davis II, Dr. James Landry, Matthew P. Davis, Judge Jay Burnett, Albert Scott, and Glenn Stout. Personal Condolences may be sent to the Davis Family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements.

James Parker Davis

September 5, 1917 - March 24, 2008