Obituary
Jonathan Joseph Davis departed this life on July 22nd, 2020. He was born on January 18th, 1943 in Shelby Hospital Shelby, North Carolina to the late Robert & Mollie (Lawrence) Davis. He spent his early years until the age of seven in Cleveland County, N.C. after which the family migrated to a humble community in Inwood, Long Island, New York.
Jonathan accepted Christ at First Baptist Church located in Far Rockaway, New York under the leadership of the late Reverend H. Oliver Scott. He was educated at the Town of Lawrence School system graduating high school and was a member of the track team. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Central State University in Wilberforce Ohio, an HBCU. Jonathan was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
After college Jonathan married Jacqueline Bridget Peek of Brooklyn, New York in May of 1976. Jonathan then went on to do social work, working as the Executive Director for the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, New York where he stayed for over three decades up until his retirement in 2009. While working at the center he was loved by many for his stern yet humble personality. Over the years he served the community through his tireless efforts by implementing policies to achieve community growth, targeted social service and leadership development.
Given today’s trending issues on racial/social economic inequality and injustive, Jonathan fought daily side by side with county officials and other community leaders such as Bruce Blackmen, John Kas, Al Sharpton and Congressman Meeks among others. He received countless accolades including the “Joseph M. Sokol Memorial Award” in Dec 2003 for his outstanding contribution to the quality of human services in the community.
Besides the community he served who revered and loved him dearly, Jonathan is survived by his only living Aunt Rosia Nell Lawrence of Far Rockaway, NY; Son Claude (Felicia) Gulley of Warensville Heights, Ohio; Daughter Rashida Davis of Queens, N.Y.; Two Grandsons Shane Freeman and Vance Gulley of Ohio; and very special cousin Ebony Heath of Hartford, Connecticut. Aside from his parents Jonathan was predeceased in life by his Beloved wife Dr. Jacqueline Peek-Davis who he has now joined in eternal love forever.
