Dr. Thomas F. Davis of Ormond Beach has joined the heavenly ranks of God?s special angels. He went to live with the Lord on November 9 2003. His faith was amazing as he valiantly battled ALS - Lou Gehrig?s Disease. His family countless students and friends have been greatly touched by his giving spirit of love faith and devotion. We celebrate the life of a wonderful dad a terrific husband incredible teacher and a good friend to us all.

A celebration service will be held on Wednesday November 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Tomoka Christian Church with Pastor Joe Putting officiating. Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday November 11 at Ormond Funeral Home.

Tom?s life has been rich and varied. Tom was born in Detroit Michigan. Tom?s beloved parents now deceased were Claude and Anita Davis. They had three other children: Jacqueline who predeceased Tom Donna and Paul.

While studying for his Bachelor?s Degree at Catholic University in Washington D.C. he was a six-year member of the Order of the Christian Brothers. He began his teaching career in 1955 at St. Raymond?s in the Bronx NY. From there he returned to Detroit to teach at the University of Detroit for nine years. He served as Lecturer Instructor and Assistant Professor. He also held a position as Dean of Freshman Studies. He was selected Teacher of the Year in 1967 and elected University Ombudsman in 1968. While there he earned a Master?s Degree. In 1972 he received his Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Wayne State University.

Tom was Chairman of the mathematics department for the Charleston County School district for five years. He relocated to Florida in 1975 as an Associate Professor in the Education Department at Bethune-Cookman College and in 1984 joined the DBCC family as a full-time member of the Mathematics Department.

Tom?s professional and volunteer activities include the following: authored a technical textbook Welcome to the World of the TI-85 Graphing Calculator and accompanying workbook; was selected as DBCC?s Teacher of the Year in 1987; was chosen by the DBCC student body to provide the commencement address; served for two terms as Vice President of DBCC?s Faculty Senate; was the recipient of the Student Advocacy and Support award; and chaired numerous college committees. Tom also served as Chair of mathematics science and technology for the branch campuses for three years. He also taught seminars to prepare students for the SAT and GRE examinations.

Tom served as an adjunct at Embry-Riddle University University of North Florida Nova University The Citadel Baptist College College of Charleston Medical University of Charleston and other colleges. Tom wrote and presented several research papers at educational conferences throughout his career.

Tom chaired Special Olympics; served on the boards of the Association of Retarded Citizens ARC the March of Dimes; the Youth Advocacy Commission; and the Governor?s Constituency on Children & Youth; was two-term President of the Board of the Center for the Visually Impaired CVI and six-term Treasurer of the Greater Daytona Beach Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. He was presented with the Distinguished Service Award at the NFBF State Convention in 2003.

Tom was quite a sports enthusiast. He was active in all sorts of sports in high school while growing up in Detroit. Later on he coached football basketball baseball and track at the high school level. In addition he was an umpire and a referee in these sports for ten years. At age 50 Tom took up the game of tennis and played regularly until the summer of 2001.

Tom is survived by his loving wife Kathy to whom he was married nearly twelve years; his three sons and their wives Kevin wife Laurel of Owasso MI; Danny and wife Laurie of Northville MI; Mark and wife Vicki of Grossisle MI; his children by marriage Laura Davis of Atlanta GA; Dana Lynn Davis of Boca Raton FL; Brad and wife Dana Nicole Davis of Marietta GA; his six grandchildren Brian S