Reverend Eugene Brenford Davis,  worked as a Christian leader on the Sanguinetti District of New Testament Churches for more than 70 years.  He was a pastor for almost 40 of those years.

Davis, 92, served as pastor for the Wishbeach, Spaldings, Santa Hill and Tweedside New Testament churches over the years. 

His eldest daughter, Carol May Davis-Nelson, described her dad as an excellent, loving, caring, kind, attentive father, and said she had several fond memories of the late stalwart of God.

"He used to sit us down and tell us bedtime stories; he used to give us bible readings and explained the readings to us. He guided us on the right path and always said to us that we should read our bible, pray, be obedient and show respect to everybody regardless of who they were; whether they were poor, whether they were rich, or whichever background they were from," recalled Davis-Nelson.

Instilled discipline

Rev Davis' son, Alphansus Davis, who is senior adviser to Education Minister Andrew Holness and who also spoke with The Gleaner on Tuesday, said his father modelled what he told his children. He added that his father instilled much discipline in all his 11 children, to the extent that everyone in the family had to show respect to each other even today.

Alphansus Davis said his father, who also served the Ministry of Agriculture for several years as an agriculture headman in the Leicesterfield Land Authority and as a works overseer at the Christiana Area Land Authority, was one of the largest farmers in Clarendon.

"He was a large producer of yams, ginger, banana, cocoa, coffee, citrus, you name it," said Alphansus.

He also said his father was 'a father for everybody's children in the community of Sanguinetti', where he (Eugene Davis) lived for almost his entire life preaching unity among family and community members.

"He liked nothing more than to see all his children together, living together in unity. That was what made him a happy man," explained the younger Davis.

Hardworking man

Deacon Joseph Palmer, who worked alongside the Rev Davis at the Wisbeach New Testament Church, said Eugene was a hardworking icon who preached unity. Palmer, who said he enjoyed working with Davis,  spoke strongly about his fund-raising ability.

"His passing is a great loss. He got saved at the New Testament Church at Wishbeach and was a real businessman. He was like a finance minister.