Noll Perkins Davis, Jr., died Monday, September 15, 2014 at Indywood Glen in Greenwood after an extended illness. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, September 19, 2014 at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood and memorial services will follow at 3 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Greenwood, MS. Rev. Peter Gray will officiate at the services. Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Davis was born to Noll P. Davis, Sr. and Julia O'Neal Davis on September 8, 1925, in the Big Level community of Stone County. He attended school in Yazoo City and graduated from University High School in Oxford, Mississippi in 1943. During his high school years, he spent the summer of 1942 helping to build the Greenwood Army Air Field. His work there began on June 4, 1942, at the rate of 45 cents per hour, and continued seven days per week for 87 consecutive days.

Following his high school graduation, Mr. Davis enrolled in the United States Army and was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training. After engineering courses at North Carolina State, he sailed with the 87th Infantry and 20,000 troops on the Queen Mary, bound for Greenock, Scotland. His unit was fighting in Alsace Lorraine and was 2000 yards into German territory when he was sidelined with injuries and remanded to military hospitals. He was honorably discharged in July of 1945 and spent the rest of his life acquiring a legendary knowledge of all matters related to World War II.

In the fall of 1945, Mr. Davis enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he was elected president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and earned membership in Phi Eta Sigma, Blue Key and ODK honorary societies. After graduating with a degree in agriculture, he went to work for the Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville, specializing in weed control and cotton physiology. In 1949, he joined his father's Greenwood business, All State Fertilizer Company, and made Greenwood his home for the rest of his life. He purchased the fertilizer company outright in 1957 and operated it with integrity until 2007.

Mr. Davis was an active and revered communicant of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, where his presence on the Bishop's Hall couch at 8am was a signal that services could proceed. He served with great enthusiasm in almost every capacity of parish life, including time as a Vestry member and Junior Warden, and he was the undisputed master of Nativity history and lore. He was also a long-time member of the Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club. He served as a director of Leflore Bank & Trust Company and was on the advisory boards of Deposit Guaranty National Bank, Amsouth Bank and Greenwood Utilities.

Mr. Davis was predeceased by his parents and two siblings: Patty Davis and David Davis, both of Wiggins. He was married to Alice Critz Davis until her death in 2007 and is survived by his daughter, Jenny Payne Scott of Greenwood; his sister, Polly Davis Howe of Hattiesburg; his grandson, Hugh Critz Atkinson,and his nephews, Eddie LeGrand IV(Shellie) of Pelahatchie and John LeGrand (Susan)of Biloxi. He also leaves numerous devoted friends and neighbors who will never forget his kindness and dependability in all matters.

Memorials may be directed to the Episcopal Church of the Nativity or the donor's charity of choice.