Charles J. Davis Sr.

Charles Joseph Davis, Sr. was born August 7, 1938, in New Orleans, LA to the marital union of Charles Davis and Hilda (Languille) Davis. He was the youngest and only boy of their four children. Until Hurricane Katrina, Charles was a lifelong resident of New Orleans and a pillar of the community he so dearly loved. Charles attended Corpus Christi Catholic School and Joseph Clark High School. On February 4, 1958, he married his beloved wife Linda Gex. Together, they raised four children: Kim Holliman (Mike), Tina Payton (David), Charles “Chuckie” J. Davis, Jr. (Donna), and Marcus Davis (Aimée). Charles started working at Duplcet Electrical Company as a teenager. He pursued night classes at Delgado Community College to expand his knowledge and understanding of his chosen field. He went on to pass the Electrical Contractors Exam the first time he sat for the exam, which is hard to do. At this point, he started his own business and mastered his craft. His business tagline for C. J. Davis Electrical Service was "There is No Substitute for Experience." Charles loved to read and keep up with current events. He loved math and was very good with figures, which proved useful in bookkeeping for his business. He loved being an electrician and possessed a true entrepreneurial spirit! This would include Davis' PoBoy Restaurant which he owned and operated for a couple of years. Charles often said he never worked a day in his life, but work he did…Charles had a work ethic like no other! With a steadfast commitment to excellence, he approached every project and task within it with precision, care, integrity and reliability. Whether it was troubleshooting electrical issues or installing complex systems, he never wavered in his pursuit of perfection. He rose early in the morning, worked until late in the evenings and would often go to “check a job” on the weekend. If you were on time, he considered you to be late. His expectation for himself and his family was to be early. As a result of these outstanding character traits, Charles’ impeccable reputation grew. Everyone from uptown to downtown and all over the city wanted him for their electrical needs. Charles always loved a challenge, and Hurricane Katrina would bring him and the city the greatest one ever. While in Chicago where he and his entire family evacuated, people called him constantly asking him to return to help them with their electrical needs. Charles came back, and while rebuilding his life after he and his family lost everything, he helped the New Orleans community turn its light of hope back on literally and figuratively. He will not only be remembered for his technical expertise, but also as a shining example of loyalty and excellence for the electrical profession – and for his dedication to the people of his beloved city of New Orleans. Charles’ greatest love, however, was his family. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great grandfather as well as a generous friend, Godfather, uncle, and cousin. Though hardworking, he always made time for his family. Friday nights were often spent at the drive-in movies, when his four children were young. The weekends were a time to eat out and give his Linda G., as he affectionately called her, a break from cooking. Charles loved fishing and took his family on many memorable vacations. He enjoyed watching sports, having family over, and hosting parties for friends at his longtime home at 1935 Duels Street. The Davis residence on Duels Street was always bustling and everyone was welcomed! Charles was a member of two social and pleasure clubs, The Downtowners and The Vikings Krewe, Inc. He held many roles in both clubs: President, Vice President, and Treasurer. He and Linda were fixtures for years at the various Mardi Gras balls and other social events in the city. They had a very full and fun social life not only in New Orleans but also while traveling throughout the country and on cruises with other couples. Linda G. was the love of his life; he adored her; and they loved living life together! Generosity was also one of Charles’ core tenets. He was selfless and warm hearted. He silently supplied cases of fish to Epiphany Catholic School for the Lenten Supper fish fries. Charles never met a stranger and often helped others financially without expecting anything in return. He believed the open hand would allow for gifts to go out and to come in, if he was ever in need. This ethos came true when he and his family, like most New Orleanians, experienced the generosity of strangers in their time of sudden, catastrophic need brought upon by Hurricane Katrina. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Jacqueline Davis Roy, and his newborn daughter Fatima. His memory will be forever held in the hearts of his surviving family: his wife Linda G.; his children, Kim (Mike), Tina (David), Chuckie (Donna), and Marcus (Aimée); his nine grandchildren, Tia Nagin, Nichole Nagin Bevrotte (Brett), Fatima Nagin, Gregory DeGruy, Charles “Lil Chuckie” Davis, III, Melissa Davis, Hudson Davis, Aïda Davis, and Esmé Davis; his three great grandchildren Dyinyah Nagin, Sophia Bevrotte, and Juliana Bevrotte; his sisters Helen Davis Diaz and Althea Davis Davillier; his Godchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Charles was the epitome of this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote. Charles always had a smile on his face, loved people, and worked tirelessly to be a peacemaker within and outside of his family. He was selfless, warm hearted, and hardworking – a class act– who turned on the light of hope for his family, friends, and community. Charles was a servant of God. His legacy will live on through his countless electrical projects, both in the wiring of dwellings and in the light he turned on in the hearts of those who knew him. Relatives and friends of the family, also priest and parishioners of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2022 St. Bernard Ave are invited to attend a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 2022 St. Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 11:00am. Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 10:15am. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 10:15am. Interment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook, share memories, and condolences to the family. —------------ In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Honor of Charles J. Davis, Sr. to the Delgado Electrician Career & Technical Studies financial aid fund. The family will be giving a scholarship in his honor to a deserving young person(s) who needs financial help to pursue their dream of being an electrician – and lighting up the world in their own way. Please type in the short link to your browser or scan the QR code below, if you would like to make a tax-free, charitable contribution. In the special instructions section, please write “In Honor of Charles J. Davis, Sr.” so that Delgado Community College and the family can acknowledge you appropriately.

Charles J. Davis Sr.

April 6, 2024