Edward Davis,

Jr.

Edward Arnold Davis, Jr passed away at his home, Belfield on February 18th after a truly well fought fight. He was born on October 8th, 1941 in Dayton, Ohio to the late Edward Arnold Davis and the late Marion Hixson Davis. His father served in World War II.  Upon his return he earned his doctorate in education. The family first moved to Cross City, Florida where Eddie and his brother Sam attended elementary school. Their father was their principal. Eddie then attended the PK Yonge School in Gainesville, Florida where his father was again his principal. He was also the Dean of Education at the University of Florida.

Upon graduation Eddie enlisted in the Navy where he served for two years. He then entered the PreMed program at UF. A trip to California one summer changed his career course. He met the late legendary horseman Jimmy Williams. Jimmy took his natural talent with horses and taught him to become a proficient hunter/jumper rider and then trainer. Jimmy also was a well known  stunt rider. He taught his student to do that as well. Eddie rode in many movies, once jumping a horse across the back of a pickup truck.

He remained in California for several years after he opened his own stable. He sold one of his first jumpers, Fearless Padre to the USET. At that time as a professional he was ineligible to participate in the Olympics himself. He then moved East where he had a stable in Atlanta, Georgia. There, at a horse show  he met his future  wife of forty-nine years, Rosamond Chubb Young.(Rozzie).  They were married in Thomasville, Georgia on July 1st, 1973. They built a house and stable for their business at Willow Oak Plantation.

Eddie  trained  two year old thoroughbreds before they left for the track. He also trained show hunters and jumpers for sale and began teaching students who won multiple regional and national championships. Life long friendships were forged and held even after his pupils became adults, as were those with their parents.

Because he saw the show world as a place for families, he and Rozzie were raising their three sons, and not just for those that rode, he formed his own production company, The Davis Group. He wanted families to have opportunities to do things together after the day was done.

The shows he produced stretched from Florida to Vermont's Green Mountains. Families did indeed have fun as families.

He retired from that world in 1995. Horses were not out of his life. While serving on the Board of Thomas University he helped Doctor Homer Pankey, then University President, organize a charity polo match on the old Devereux Polo field. From that simple act, he and Rozzie assembled their own string of ponies with an Argentine Pro, two grooms and a stable of twenty ponies. They mainly played at the Villages in Lady Lake Florida and Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the summer. He  trained  his own horses, selling them to the highest level players. Two of his mares were bought by the Merlos Brothers to send to Argentina only to be played at the annual forty goal tournament in Buenos Aries. At the time it was the only forty goal tournament in the world.

In 2004, they shut down their operation. Their teams had won many tournaments. One of their homebred and trained ponies went to the racetrack where he won multiple stakes including the Grade Three Spend A Buck.

Three years prior to his death, he bought an American Quarter horse to ride in the Versatility and Working Cow Horse divisions. He showed Raised On It in his and the horse's first show and they were Champion. As health issues ended those dreams the horse was sent to Mike Majors in Texas where he has won multiple World Championships. Eddie's dream now will be fulfilled by his nephew, John Wagner, who will show Moze in the Amateur divisions for his uncle.

A consummate sportsmen, he was an excellent shot with both rifle and shotgun and a truly exceptional fly fisherman.  He hunted here, in Africa, England, Scotland and Ireland. Eddie was a baseball player in school, so he became a supporter of the FSU Baseball Team and as a Coaches Club member of their Basketball team where he had ,and will continue to have, court side seats. He loved the beautiful woods and environment preserved on Willow Oak not just for himself but for the generations to follow. He was proud of  watching their bird dogs, many of whom they had bred, in the field and at field trials. The labradors he has owned were hunting companions and Field Trial winners and Heather was under his bed when he left to join his much beloved Boarder Collie, Jordan who has been waiting at the Gate for him these past three years.

Eddie sang in the choirs of both All Saints' Thomasville and in the summers at Calvary, Red Lodge, Montana. He served on the Board of Thomas University and was a head usher at All Saints.

He was preceded in death by his parents and youngest brother, Larry and his beloved sister-in-law Victoria (Vicky) Chubb Wolsfelt. He is survived by his wife and partner in everything, Rozzie; his sons who were the pride of his parenting skills, Jonathan Caldecot Young of Atlanta, Georgia, Geoffrey Preston Young (Elizabeth) and Walker Wrighton Davis ( Lauren), both of Thomasville, his brother Samuel( Judy) of Gainesville, Florida; four grandchildren Preston McDowell Young (22), Wilson Caldecot Young (16), Wyatt Jackson Davis (14) and Elizabeth "Eliza" Lanigan Davis (8); seven nieces and nephews and their spouses, ten great nieces and eight great  nephews, three great- great nephews and one great-great niece.

He is also survived by his brothers in law; Russell Parsons Chubb (Leonie) of Thomasville, and Gerald Robert Wolsfelt of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints' at two on Tuesday, February 22nd with a Celebration of Life to follow at 1408 Gordon Avenue.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to either All Saints' Church, Tall Timbers,Inc, Archbold Medical Center or the NRA.

The Davis-Young family extend their heartfelt gratitude to the exceptional caregivers who were with Grumpy these past three months. Billie Jo, Tangela, Mary, Lisa, Anne, Keya and Rachell without you we could not have been up to the task. We also thank his incredible doctors: Craig Fredericks, Armand Cognetta, William Ellis, Stephen Brewer, Sanford Hawkins and Edward Hall. We also thank The Reverend Will Brown III and our beloved Nikki Scott, Curt Eason, Joe Jones, Willie Simpson and Rachell Garland who have been rocks to lean on throughout.