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- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 26 Jun 2001.
John Clifford ''Cliff'' Davis
January 02, 1906 - June 26, 2001
Birthplace: Sevier County, Tennessee
Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA
Visitation: June 28, 2001
Service: June 28, 2001
Cemetery: Shiloh Cemetery
John Clifford “Cliff” Davis, age 95 of Sevierville, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at Sevier Medical Center.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Ballard Davis.
Survivors: Daughter & Son-in-law: Jane & Ron Rader Grandsons & wives: Jeff & Nancy Rader Mitch & Jacquie Rader John & Mary Ellen Rader Great Grandchildren: Davis Rader Caroline Rader Holt Rader Ellie Grace Rader Sister: Stella Davis Cox.
Funeral service 7:30 PM Thursday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville with Rev. Jerry Hyder, Rev. Scott Andrews and Mr. Steve Brewer officiating. Interment 10 AM Friday in Shiloh Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be John Shults, Greg & Alex Davis, Johnny Cheek, Mike McCroskey, & Robert Tino. The Sevier County Electric System Board of Directors will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends 2-4 PM and 5-7 PM Thursday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The John Clifford “Cliff” Davis Smoky Bear Scholarship Fund--% Sevier County Bank—101 East Main Street—Sevierville, Tennessee 37862.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 29 Jun 2001.
SEVIERVILLE - City flags are flying at half-staff to mark the death of former Mayor and Alderman Cliff Davis, who worked tirelessly for the community over a long life.
Davis died Tuesday at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. He was 95.
"He was a very knowledgeable person. He was in many ways a part of the city of Sevierville - a fine person," said Dr. C.P. Wilson, who worked with him in many endeavors.
Davis, an accomplished athlete in his youth, was a lifelong supporter of youth involvement in sports. Until a couple of years ago, he painted the goal posts at Sevier County High School before every football season.
Born on a Knob Creek farm, Davis came to Sevierville to study at Murphy College. He lettered in all sports and with his brother, Lynn, led the college to a state basketball championship in 1926.
The brothers were fine baseball players; Lynn went to the major leagues for a while.
After working in Knoxville, Cliff Davis returned to Sevierville in 1937 to become a partner in an auto dealership. In 1938 he became the sole owner. His garage is now a warehouse for Carl Ownby Hardware on Main Street. He retired in 1972.
From 1938 to 1976, he served nine consecutive Democratic governors as the county Democratic campaign manager. He was an alderman from 1944 to 1952, and again for eight years in the '60s and early '70s. He was mayor from 1973 to 1977.
Among his accomplishments in office, he went to Washington, D.C. to persuade the federal government to address the flooding that plagued Sevierville every spring, The Tennessee Valley Authority subsequently rerouted the river.
He also talked an acquaintance into selling the Runyon Farm, which became City Park. He oversaw the installation of the swimming pool there.
"He was very supportive of young people who wanted to further themselves in athletics," said Amos Marshall, a fellow alderman and friend. He was instrumental in starting the Smoky Bowl in the 1950s. "Cliff is known as Mr. Athletics," Marshall said.
Two adult softball fields at City Park and the Davis-McCarter baseball field at Sevier County High School are named after him. He was an avid follower of high school sports.
"Cliff was always there - not just for Jane (Rader, his daughter) but for all the kids around town," recalled Emily Kile, who grew up with Rader.
For his great-nephew, Mike McCroskey, Davis embodied "integrity, ethics and doing the right thing... I always looked up to him."
He was of even temperament, never upset by rough-and-tumble politics. Like others of his generation, "they were old-style gentlemen," McCroskey said. In their presence, "you felt as if you had to stand a little straighter and act a little better without their saying a word."
"He was very helpful to people who needed something done," Marshall said. "He did lots of things people didn't know about."
He was the one mowing the playing fields and painting the goalposts, said Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley. "He was really involved. He did a lot of the blood, sweat and tears."
Few people know that he visited people in the hospital and nursing homes "almost daily, for years," Kile said.
He served in Sevierville Lions Club and Woodmen of the World for more than 40 years. He was a longtime member of the city's recreation board, a former director of the Bank of Sevierville (now SunTrust Bank) and was on the board of Sevier County Electric System. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Sevierville.
"He never lost his sense of humor 'til the day he died," Kile said.
"I call him Sevierville's patriarch. It won't be the same without him."
His wife, Grace Ballard Davis, predeceased him. He leaves one daughter, Jane Rader; three grandsons and four great-grandchildren.
Flags will remain at half-staff today. Funeral service is 7:30 tonight at First Baptist Church of Sevierville. Interment is 10 a.m. Friday in Shiloh Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the John Clifford "Cliff" Davis Smoky Bear Athletic Scholarship Fund, care of Sevier County Bank.
Anna Garber can be reached at agarber@themountainpress.com.
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 28 Jun 2001.
DAVIS, JOHN CLIFFORD "CLIFF" - age 95, of Sevierville, passed away Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at Sevier Medical Center. Mr. Davis served two terms as Mayor of Sevierville, and 16 years on the City Council. He was an avid supporter of sports throughout Sevier County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Ballard Davis. Survivors: daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Ron Rader; grandsons and wives, Jeff and Nancy Rader, Mitch and Jacquie Rader, and John and Mary Ellen Rader; great-grandchildren, Davis Rader, Caroline Rader, Holt Rader, and Ellie Grace Rader; sister, Stella Davis Cox; sister-in-law, Johnnie Ballard Cardwell, and devoted friend, Eddie Shultz. Funeral service will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at First Baptist Church, Sevierville, with Rev. Jerry Hyder, Rev. Scott Andrews, Mayor Bryan Atchley, and Coach Steve Brewer officiating. Interment 10 a.m. Friday, June 29, in Shiloh Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be John Shultz, Greg and Alex Davis, Johnny Cheek, Mike McCroskey, and Robert Tino. The Sevier County Electric System Board of Directors to include Jack DeLozier, George Seaton, and Howard Murrell will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, Sevierville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The John Clifford "Cliff" Davis Smoky Bear Scholarship Fund, c/o Sevier County Bank, 101 East Main Street, Sevierville, TN 37862. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. www.atchleyfuneralhome.com.
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1906 - 2001 (95 years)
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