Ernest Davis (June 7, 1914 - August 23, 1947)

Ernest Davis

When the gust of wind from the back of the open plane slaps your face, and you are contemplating the impossible, you have only seconds to decide to jump and face all your fears. Of course, alternatively, the choice remains to slink gingerly back to the awaiting bench, where the ground is reached by pilot effort and not from a single second of bravado - or perhaps stupidity. To the jumper, it is a leap of faith that the chute will open when the ripcord gets pulled. However, when a jumper is 10,000 feet in the air, regardless of its attachment to the body, it becomes difficult to have faith in the invisible or unfelt -- the parachute whose single purpose is to glide you to the ground safely after touring it from the skies above.

In many ways, God is our daily parachute. We cannot feel him unless we meditate upon his existence. He is invisible to our eyes. And it requires a leap of faith to rely upon his promises. When our feet are planted firmly on the ground, it is easy to praise his name and thank him for all his blessings and glory. But when he tests us with trials and tribulations, it becomes difficult to believe that his parachute is just waiting for us to pull upon its ripcord. Some question God's existence when faced with life's struggles. How can bad things happen to good people? The answer, of course, is simple. God requires obedience from his children, and with compliance comes a deeper understanding of God's words.

Dj Moats-Herron

On February 26, God challenged my faith when he took whom I considered my child--my son. When I looked down upon his spiritless body lying in the satin-lined coffin that held the man that once belonged to the little boy I had come to love, I never questioned God's reasons. I never questioned God's purpose or plan. I trusted in his plans for me. And I trusted in his plans for this person, whom I loved beyond measure, whom he decided to remove from my world. When my visceral screams failed to reach the heavens with my resounding "NO" upon hearing of his death, I knew, in the end, I had to have faith in God's plan for taking away someone who mattered more to me than he ever understood. I also had to trust that even though, in this world, our words remained unspoken or tangled in anger, God would amend all things in his. My leap of faith!

This world is meaningless, but it is here where God commands us to be students of his word so that we are prepared to be his children in his world. His tests vary from person to person, as well as their duration and difficulty. And decades ago, God tested a minister whose son's faith tested God's. A son whose faith was unmeasurable and was bound to leave the many who loved him with the question of why. Here is their story, as strange as it was.

Rev. Samuel B. Davis and family

Ernest Davis was born on June 7, 1914, in Trion, Chattooga County, Georgia [1-3]. He was the fourth of the eight (known) children born to Rev. Samuel B. Davis (March 29, 1878 - December 23, 1948) and Lillie Belle Irene Harris (January 29, 1883 - July 10, 1972). Besides Ernest, his family consisted of the following siblings: John Henry (May 27, 1904 - July 6, 1986), Fannie Mae (July 29, 1909 - August 30, 1995), Willis Oscar (December 24, 1912 - March 2, 1956), Annis (1917), Maudie Lee (May 12, 1919 - August 13, 2003), Lillie Mae (May 16, 1923 - April 19, 1998), and Edgar Lee Davis (July 3, 1929-February 24, 2024) [4-18].

As a young child growing up in Trion, Ernest's life was simple. His father, Sam, a minister, was a sharecropper, which meant constantly battling financial difficulties [4-11]. Since Sam's highest educational achievement was completing the 4th grade, it meant an ongoing struggle to overcome the hardships of feeding and clothing his eight children with what he earned underneath the blazing sun and the soil beneath his feet from his sweat equity [4-11]. And for this, Ernest's dad, Sam, relied on the word of God to see him through difficult times. Sam found comfort in God's words, and he believed in challenging his faith and the faith of his congregation [19]. Most specifically, Sam built his spiritual dynasty on Mark 16:17-18, "and these signs shall follow them that believe. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover [19]. In my name shall they cast out devils [19]. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them [19]".

Lucy Irene Headrick

As the son of a farmer, it seemed inevitable that Ernest would follow in his father's footsteps and become a farmer, too [20]. Ernest's rugged, stocky build and handsome face were characteristics also adopted through his father, and in approximately 1934, those looks attracted beautiful Lucy Irene Headrick [21-24]. Born February 8, 1910, in Summerville, Georgia, Lucy was the daughter of James Franklin Headrick and Dora B. Dodd [23-24]. The consummation of Ernest and Lucy resulted in the birth of a daughter, Virginia Minnie Davis, on July 1, 1935, in Summerville [23-24]. However, their love would not last long and would end in tragedy.

With a father as a pastor and mentor, Ernest took his relationship with God seriously [25]. Growing up attending his father's church, Ernest was used to observing his father's zealous display of strong faith by handling rattle and cobra snakes, believing himself to be unaffected if bitten by their venom [25]. Ernest's zealousness for verses Mark 16:17-18 and proving his faith in God through two narrowly interpreted passages in the Bible was also part of his spiritual lineage [25]. A lineage that would prove deadly, however.

Virginia Minnie Davis

On Friday, August 22, 1947, Ernest and Lucy did what they frequently did: walk through the doors of the Free Church of God [25]. Like many in their congregation, they sat in the pews listening to the inspirational words of their pastor, Rev. Gordon Miller, eventually rallying themselves up into a spiritual frenzy, along with the others whose souls were called upon to worship that night [25]. Lucy cautioned Ernest as they listened intently to the words woven by the pastor, as she often did, to wane his faith in God, fearing his passionate zealousness [25]. After 4-1/2 hours of testimonials, Rev. Miller called out to Ernest with the motivational verses of Mark 16:17-18 as his incentive, "Brother Davis, do you believe in the power of the Lord great enough to take what's in this bottle [25]?" A question Ernest had challenged his conscience with several times before [25].

Before passing around a bottle containing a deadly concoction of strychnine and bichloride of mercury, Rev. Miller provoked his congregation with his words of weaponry purposely meant to spawn guilt upon those doubting the strength of their faith [26, 28]. He said, "If you feel the power of the Lord great enough, you can take what is in this bottle; if you don't feel the power, I wouldn't [26]." To prove his faith, Rev. Miller, after mixing it with a glass of water, took a few sips himself, illustrating he practiced what he preached [26]. However, when Ernest took the glass, he downed gulps of the spiritual challenge despite Lucy's words of caution [25-26]. Ernest said, "I feel the power of the Lord [25-26]."

Ernest Davis

The following day, while ignoring the poisonous effects settling in on his body, Ernest picked up and played his guitar as he prayed to his Lord above [25-27]. After hours of the salvation cocktail simmering inside within, Ernest fell over and slipped into a coma [25-27]. Within moments of being transported to the hospital by his father-in-law, Jim, Ernest's spirit let go of this physical world and grasped God's kingdom [25-27]. To the devoted Rev. Samuel B. Davis, the Lord had given him his son, and now the Lord had taken him away [Job 1:21]. Sam said, "I prayed with my boy when he was dying, and the last he said was I praise my God [28]." He added, "My boy had more faith than I did; He took it to the grave with him [28]."

Rev. Miller may have believed that "God's will thy be done" upon Ernest's death. However, the justice system had conflicting views. Callously or perhaps faithfully, Miller said, "The poison killed Davis - he must not have had enough faith [30]." Words he boldly spoke without any self-recrimination to the arresting officer who came to shackle him at the graveside in Trion Cemetery, where Ernest's family wept in sorrow and disbelief as they lowered Ernest's coffin, returning him to the earth [18, 31]. Three days later, in a crowded courtroom with 400 sweltering farmers, the justice system indicted Rev. Miller for manslaughter [25]. He would now have to rely upon his faith and God's will for his freedom.

"Vengeance is mine, I will repay," states God in Romans 12:19. Most assuredly, Ernest's family heeded those words as reverently as they did those that tested Ernest's faith. The following day, Ernest's brother, Willis, offered to put up his home to cover the 1,500 bond required for Miller's release [32]. There was no blame or hatred towards Miller and his spiritual provocation. Weeks later, on September 13, Miller's freedom was permanently granted when he walked out of the courtroom with dismissed charges, shouting to the 200 farmers who stood in solidarity celebrating his freedom, "Bless God, the Lord set me free [29]." The judge had determined that Miller had done nothing wrong by carrying around poison [29]. It simply wasn't against the law, believed the judge [29].

Decades later, on August 23, 1993, Lucy was assigned the more difficult task of burying the child that she and Ernest had created through their love. Nearly five years later, on February 22, 1998, she finally joined her savior, God, and those who parted before her. After Ernest's death, she remarried twice. Her interment is unknown.

Tracey Lynn Martin

In James 1:3, God says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." And then James 1:6 states, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." I have frequently considered the wisdom in these verses to give me the strength and necessary clarity on the hurt I harbor deep within my soul. As with Sam, God took my son from my perception too early in his life, and the answer to why will always go unknown, I suppose. It requires my un-relinquishing faith to continue breathing with the realization that my son will never take another breath of his own. And it also requires unyielding love for my God despite knowing my son will never know or understand that I also held that love for him.

But I now understand that hurt is an essential part of this world. Sometimes, hurt doesn't carry as deeply when replaced temporarily with other less profound thoughts, but it's always there in the waiting shadows to capture you again. With an absent warning, it can bubble up in a song, reminding you of your loss. It can be simmering underneath a fake smile you've forced yourself to give others to help conceal those inner thoughts that contain the echoes of the voices you will never hear again. It can trickle in a tear that inexplicably escapes without conscious intention. It is what lies deep within a muted scream filled with fear that, if started, can't be silenced. It's in ashes returned to the earth because it is what remains of what was more than mere dust when whole. It's an unopened golden box tucked away on a shelf, with an enclosed registered book - a constant reminder. It's a pot of water on a hot stove waiting to boil over at any time and place. And it is in your faith that is clung to because you can never hold on to them again. It's your ripcord pulled with a failed parachute!

Sources:

1. The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Georgia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147
2. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72210538/ernest-davis
4. Census 1920: Resides in Trion, Chattooga County, Georgia: Sam B. 40, Lillie 42, John Henry 14, Fannie 9, Willis 7, Annis 3
5. Year: 1920; Census Place: Trion, Chattooga, Georgia; Roll: T625_242; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 27
6. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
7. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City)
8. Census 1930: Resided in Militia Disctrict 870, Chattooga County, Georgia: Sam 52, Lillie B 48, Willis 19, Earnest 12, Maudie L 10, Lillie Mae 6, Edgar Lee 0, Lois L. Harris 14
9. Year: 1930; Census Place: Militia District 870, Chattooga, Georgia; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0001; FHL microfilm: 2340080
10. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
11. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
12. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10200616/sam_b_davis
13. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10200615/lillie_davis
14. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77681609/fannie_mae_blackmon
15. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72210547/wills_o_davis
16. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140666968/maudie_l_hine
17. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77760266/lillie_mae_hines
18. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/265578767/edgar_lee_davis
19. “Summerville,” 1947, August 29, The Atlantic Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, Page 10.
20. “Preacher Free On Bond In Death of Man By Poison,” 1947, August 27, The Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta, Georgia, Page 1.
21. The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Georgia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147
22. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
23. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015
24. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
25. “Faith Minister Faces Manslaughter Charge,” 1947, August 27, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Page 2.
26. “Witness Describes Faith Poison Meet,” 1947, August 27, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, Page 7.
27. McGill, Ralph, “Brother Davis Salvation Cocktail,” 1947, August 28, The Atlanta Constitution, Page 10.
28. “Preacher Sipped Fatal Potion Too, Court Said,” 1947, August 26, The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, Georgia, Page 1.
29. “Faith Potion Pastor Freed, Preaches On,” 1947, September 14, The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, Georgia, Page 1.
30. “Hearing Set for Paster,” 1947, August 26, The Macon News, Macon, Georgia, Page 1.
31. “Pastero Held on Charge of Murder,”1947, August 26, The Macon Telegraph, Macon, Georgia, Page 1.
32. “Preacher Free On Bond In Death Of Man Of Poisoning,” 1947, August 27, The Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta, Georgia, Page 1

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