Willis Davis Jr., business manager for EBONY Fashion Fair, dies

Jet, Feb 16, 2004

Willis Fleming Davis, Jr., 73, longtime business manager of Johnson Publishing Company's EBONY Fashion Fair, recently died of a long illness in Richmond, VA. Davis died in Boa Secours, St. Mary's Hospital, in the city.

Davis, known to friends as "Willie D," joined Johnson Publishing Co. (JPC) in 1955 as circulation representative in the Washington, D.C., and Virginia region.

Born in Richmond, VA, he was a seaman in the U.S. Navy, in Newport News, VA. He later worked as an insurance agent and also was employed at Fuller Products in Norfolk, VA, before he joined JPC.

In 1966, Davis was named business manager of' the EBONY Fashion Fair, the world's largest traveling fashion show.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Vinceretta Davis; son, Willis F. "Tracee" Davis, III; daughter, Deborah Davis; son-in-law Garland M. Jones; three grandchildren, Keith M. Jones, Travis D. Jones and April D. Jones; brothers, Landon E. and Richard A. Davis; sister-in-law Dorothy M. Davis: sister, Lillie Manuel; a cousin, Marcellus "Skeet" Bingham; and godsons, Mark L. Walker and Brian Roane.

Services were at the 31st Street Baptist Church in Richmond with the Rev. Dr. Darrel Rollins, officiating. Burial was in the Forest Lawn Mausoleum in the city.