Jeff Davis Memorial Service Update…Evolving plans
 
From: jimwdean@aol.com
 
Dear Friends of Jeff,
 
The family is shooting for a Saturday January 14th or 21st dates, hinging on which date is best for the Confederate Wool Hat Boys who do the Mason last rites service, which will be memorable for those who have not seen it. We will give you a hard date as soon we know.
 
Event time…they are looking at early afternoon at the Gainesville Elks Lodge where we had Jeff’s 80th birthday event. I believe it has 300 seating capacity. Jeff had so many out of town friends and so many civic group memberships that we are guessing on the space needed.
 
The girls are working on his obituary…up to four pages now Lee tells me, and growing as more folks keep showing up with ‘Oh, he was it this org, also!’ The Moose Lodge was recently added in.
 
In some preliminary planning that Lee and I had with Jeff during his early cancer treatment he was adamant about honoring all of his orgs and people he worked with…so his girls are trying to work there way through it. I suggested that if we need to, the troops might like to chip in on what might end up being the world’s longest obituary, as they will be running it in the Gainesville and Atlanta papers.
 
Despite the preparatory work that was done while Jeff was sick, surprises continue to pop up…the most recent being a box of loose old photos including one with Jeff and Elizabeth Taylor…a casual one with no make up.
 
I am also asking that if anyone has any old photos or video of Jeff from past events to please contact me to let me know what you have as I will be compiling an archive from which we can do full multimedia retrospective, something along the lines of ‘A Very American Life’. The Jaycee’s Crew (their officer alumni org) has already begun looking. George McMath has told us about a great ‘yellow suit speech’ video of Jeff that he has seen. We are awaiting more pleasant surprises.
 
My contact info is below.
 
Folks have been asking for a family address to send condolences. That would be:
 
Lee Lewis, 200 Cobblers Knob, Clarkesville, Ga. 30523
 
The next notice should have the final arrangements date, time and location….over the next few days. We look forward to seeing you all. Please call me for anything I can help with, news, ideas, suggestions about giving brother Jeff a great send off…in honor of what he gave to all of us.
 
President Jefferson Davis, I am sure, was very proud of Jeff.
 
Jim Dean
Georgia Heritage Council (filling Jeff’s shoes)
 
Heritage TV…Atlanta
Veterans Today…managing editor
Military Order of World Wars…Atlanta…PR officer
Assoc. for Intelligence Officers
National Memorial Day Assoc. of Georgia…board
Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of Confederate Veterans
The Navy League