William Lee Davis, Sr.
1865 – 1941
William Lee “Bill” Davis, Sr. son, and the youngest of three children, born to Joshua Allen Davis and Lauretta Edwina Tillage Davis on October 6, 1865, at Williamsburg, Virginia. At the age of 11, Bill and his family relocated from Williamsburg to Portsmouth, Virginia. Bill met and married Nancy A. Eppes Davis and fathered four daughters and one son. He was employed by the Portsmouth Water Department and was baptized becoming a communicant of the Forth Street Baptist Church. While Mr. Davis was not a native of Portsmouth, having been born at Williamsburg, yet for the major portion of his life was so closely associated with that city and its affairs that he had become recognized as one of Portsmouth’s “very own.”
His affiliation with Portsmouth began with his employment by the Old Portsmouth Berkley and Suffolk Water Company, which connection continued fourteen years from July 1, 1904, to April 30, 1918. With one year intervening he was a shop superintendent in the Norfolk Navy Yard. He was there appointed on January 1, 1919 as Superintendent of the present Portsmouth Water Company, a position he held continuously for twenty-two years. The record of his administration of this office stands as a monument to his precise efficiency.
As a communicant of the Forth Street Baptist Church, he and his family attended church regularly and continued their affiliation through the years. As a churchman his sound counsel and active participation not only in the affairs of the church of his affiliation but in all matters pertaining to the religious activities of the city, was of incalculable value.
The one thing in his life that stood out, and which he probably held nearer and dearer than all others, was his Masonic affiliations. At the age of Twenty-five, Mr. Davis petitioned and was initiated into the Masonic Order through St. John’s Lodge No. 36 then located in Richmond, Virginia on August 12, 1890. Brother Davis was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on September 9, 1890 and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on October 14, 1890. Brother Davis affiliated with Seaboard Lodge No. 56 on May 3, 1893, and withdrew his membership from St. John’s Lodge on July 11, 1893. In the course of but two years in 1895 he became Worshipful Master of that lodge. Brother Davis served as Secretary of Seaboard Lodge No. 56 for a period of some thirty-four years, from 1897-1899, 2 years, and then again from 1909 – 1941, 32 years. His rise in the ranks of the Masonic Order carried him from the first chair through all of them to the exalted chair of Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia in 1928. In the interim he also served consecutively as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 34.
Brother Davis was exalted to the sublime degree of a Royal Arch Mason and in 1908 served as High Priest of Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter No. 11. Excellent Companion Davis in 1916, served as District Deputy Grand High Priest of District No. 2. and was elected to serve as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Masons in Virginia in 1930.
Sir Knight Davis served as Eminent Commander of Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 in 1909 and was elected to serve as Right Eminent Grand Commander Knights Templar of Virginia in 1916-1917.
Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United States of America Most Eminent Grand Master Sir Knight Lee Stewart Smith, Pittsburg PA. World War I, Liberty Bonds and contributions to the Red Cross Fund Most significant was General Order No. 7 – “It is earnestly desired by the Grand Master, Most Eminent Sir Lee S. Smith, that the Templars of the United States contribute an amount equal to one dollar per capita for an emergency fund for war relief work. This is distinctly a Templar effort and the order of the Grand Master, also a circular letter from your Grand Commander, has been sent to Commanderies in Virginia”.
On October 14, 1940, Brother Davis celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Master Mason. Locally, “Bill” Davis as he was popularly and affectionately known, was the “Grand Old Man of Masonry.” He was also a member of Khedive Temple, Mystic Shrine of Norfolk.
At the age of 75, William Lee “Bill” Davis, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1928, Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Masons in Virginia in 1930, and Right Eminent Grand Commander Knights Templar of Virginia in 1916-1917, residing at 948 Naval Avenue, on Wednesday, April 2, 1941, at 10:30 in the evening was pronounced dead at a Norfolk hospital after an illness of two weeks. Mr. Davis was survived by his wife, Nancy Eppes-Davis, four daughters, Laura Woodward, Mary Peters, Ruth Lee Davis, and Mrs. William E. Seaton, one son, William Lee Davis, Jr. and three grandchildren. His interment is at the Oak Grove (aka: Portlock) Cemetery located at 291 Peninsula Avenue, Lot #514, Avenue “E”, space #9, Portsmouth, Virginia. Portsmouth City Manager, Charles F. Harper said of his death, “I sincerely regret losing Mr. Davis. He was a very competent city official and a very honorable man.”
The passing of William Lee Davis, Sr. has taken from Portsmouth and this community a man held most high in the esteem of his neighbors and friends. His private life was as notable for its probity as was his public career. He never knew the meaning of compromise with any problem where there was involved the questions of right and justice. In his fraternal affiliations he was a pillar of strength and a never ceasing source of inspiration to those who admired and respected him for his high ideals and human fellowship. There has passed to his reward a Most Worthy Master now to serve the All Highest Master, the Great Creator and Architect of the universe and all mankind.
References:
1929 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia, A.O. 1929 / A.L. 5929
1917 Proceedings of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia, A.D.1917 / A.O.799
1930 Proceedings of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons in Virginia
Portsmouth Public Library, Portsmouth Star and Norfolk Virginian Pilot Obituaries April 2, 1941
Seaboard Lodge No. 56, Portsmouth, VA
St. John’s Lodge No. 36, Richmond, VA
Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter No. 11, Norfolk, VA
Portsmouth Commandery No. 5, Portsmouth, VA
Grand Lodge of Virginia, Grand Masters 1778 – 2020, Grand Lodge Library, Museum and Historical Foundation
By Sir Knight Dennis M. Haas, KCT, KYCH, OPC, Right Eminent Grand Commander
