In the comfort of his home, Samuel C. Davis entered Eternal Rest in the afternoon of July 2, 2019.  He was born on July 29, 1932 to Harrison P. Davis and Mrs. Maude C. Davis, in Salisbury, North Carolina, and was the youngest of six children.

When he was a teenager, Samuel accepted Christ Jesus as his Savior while at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Salisbury.  His favorite Bible verse was "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.  He joined First Baptist-West in the 1960's.

Samuel was educated in Salisbury City Schools, graduating from Joseph Charles Price High School.  He played football with the "Price Red Devils" until one day someone stepped on his hands and he said, "Oh No, this won't do, I need my hands to play my musical instruments."  So he immediately quit the football team.  Upon completing high school, he attended Livingstone College for one year.  Then he furthered his education by graduating from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), Durham, NC, Class of 1954.  He pursued additional education at North Western University in Evanston, IL and Appalachian State University.  He received the Master of Instrumental Music Degree from Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina in 1970.  He also received the Doctor of Humane Letters in 1983 from Teamer School of Religion for the many outstanding contributions that he made to First Baptist Church-West as Minister of Music to the Adult Choir for more than 20 years with Hortense Reid Kerr and Gerod Green. He was the Youth Director with Ona Taylor and was founder of the Youth Orchestra at First Baptist-West in which his children played along with Denise Bridges, Ina Jones, Cedric Jones, Mona Jones.  He also worked  with Mrs. Clara Jones with the Women's Choir in concerts.  He held concerts that filled up First Baptist Church-West sponsoring most traditional church music Negro Spirituals and Anthems. Churches like Myers Park Baptist, St. John Baptist and The Charlotte Symphony participated in these concerts.  He also showcased outstanding soloists like Willie Jordan Williams of Raleigh, NC and outstanding drummer, Dr. James Pippins from Tennessee.

Samuel C. Davis and his friend, Leroy Sellers, also a school teacher in the music field, were the first African Americans to integrate the Charlotte Symphony in the 1960's which was not an easy task.

Dr. Samuel C. Davis also founded The Arts and Cultural Society- a community organization for people who loved traditional church music and orchestral entertainment.  He held recitals in his home with outstanding artists beginning with with Audrey Browman, the wife of the Symphony Director, who gave a piano recital.  Other string recitals were also held.  Attire for all occasions required semi-formal dress - long gowns, tuxedoes or dark suits for men.  Other persons were entertained in his home that he designed and built in Hyde Park Estates at the age of 29.  They included famous singes Gloria Davy from Paris and Dorothy Maynard from New York City.

Samuel C. Davis was recognized at the Charlotte Symphony's 75th Year Celebration and honored by many organizations.  His favorite instrument was the Cello which he played in the Charlotte Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Hickory Symphony and the Savannah, GA Symphony.

Dr. Samuel C. Davis also organized the Hyde Park Trio composed of Cello, Violin and Keyboard.  This group composed of Samuel C. Davis, Leroy Sellers and Dr. William Crowder played for many weddings in Charlotte and surrounding areas.  They have even played for weddings for some football and basketball players.

Samuel Davis started his teaching career in Durham, NC at Merrick Moore Union School as Band and Orchestra teacher.  He also taught at Little River School in Durham County, and then to Whitted Junior High where he had a 100 piece marching band.

Upon coming to Charlotte to teach band and orchestra in the Mecklenburg County Schools for more than eleven schools including Albemarle Road Junior High, York Road Junior High and Hawthorne Junior High.  He had to learn all of the band and orchestra instruments in order to teach them.  Even when he took a position with Model Cities, a federal program, he had to learn to teach the steel drums.

Other accomplishments include: Director of the Omega Pi Phi Ensemble for 20 years; he composed and published 10 church hymns in a book entitled, "The Joy of Jesus Hymns." He sang bass in many choirs around town.

His two children, Samuel D. Davis and Kwina Davis Eure, preceded him in death.

Left to morn his passing are his wife of 53 years, Maxine O. Davis; son-in-law, Marquis A. Eure, his three grandchildren, Melvise Eure Powell (Brandon), Jason A. Eure and Derrick Davis Eure; three great-grandchildren, Kennedy O. Powell, Jada Eure and Alexis Bailey; brothers-in-law, Howard E. Ormond (Carol) and David Nuby; sisters-in-law, Shirley Davis, Naomi Ormond; and a host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; Omega grandsons, foster daughters, neighbors and friends.