Services for Claude Davis of Monticello are 2 p.m., Monday, Jan.26, at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with graveside services followingin New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Davis, 67, died Jan. 24, 2004 after a year long battle withcancer. He was born in Lawrence County on May 17, 1936, to the Rev.Archie Davis and Myrtle Russell Davis.

After high school, he moved to Gary, Ind., to start his adultlife and found work in the steel mills there. It was there he metand married his wife of 36 years and the mother of his fourchildren, Betty Allen Davis. Although they were divorced at thetime of his death, they remained friends and stayed in touchthrough the years. His life’s passion was his service in lawenforcement, where he began that career in Indiana serving on thesheriff’s department in Porter County, Ind., and as a Porter CountyConstable. He continued his service in law enforcement afterreturning to Lawrence County in 1969 by serving a 16-year term asBeat 1 Constable and a four-year term as Lawrence County’ssheriff.

In 1972, he started his construction company, Claude Davis &Sons Construction, with only one old dump truck and a worn outbackhoe. With hard work and determination, it grew into the companyhe had strived to make it. Later in years, just as he had planned,his two sons joined him in the business and his goal for thecompany was complete. His two sons, Kevin and Brad, will carry onhis legacy in the business and want to continue to serve the publicin the same manner as their father had and expected them to do.

He served as a mason, a Shriner and as a Lawrence County LionsClub member. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheriff’sAssociation and a member of the Sheriff’s Boys and Girls ClubSupport Team. He was a member of the New Zion Baptist Church, wherehis father had been pastor for well over 20 years. He was alifetime NASCAR fan and enjoyed going to many of the NASCAR racesover the years.

He leaves to carry on his love for life his four children andhis four children by marriage, Sherry and Ray Runnels, Cheryl andBo Snavely, Kevin and Laurie Davis and Brad and Julie Davis. Healso leaves to remember his love for fun and jokes his sevengrandchildren, Kris, Jason, Josh, Matthew, Adam, Keri, Cole and onegreat-grandchild, Shaylee. He leaves to carry on his love of familywith his brothers, Eutha, Russell and Charles, all of Monticello,and several nieces and nephews, some of which were very close tohis heart.

Serving as pallbearers will be his three grandsons, JasonLambert, Joshua Lambert and Matthew Runnels, and his nephews,Jackie Davis, Mike Davis and Nathaniel Davis.

Memorials can be made and will be greatly appreciated by thefamily to the American Cancer Society.