Laurie Calhoun Davis

Laurie Calhoun Davis, 81, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on February 8, 2023. He was born in Damascus, Georgia, to Laura Olivia Calhoun Davis and Newman Mattison Davis on August 19, 1941. He was raised in Atlanta and was the fifth of six siblings. His younger brother, Ralph, was his best friend, and they were a mischievous duo as they tried to keep up with their older siblings, all of whom Laurie cherished. Laurie attended Grady High School and joined the Navy upon graduation. He served aboard the USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) and picked up astronaut Gordan Cooper in the Faith 7 capsule at the conclusion of the Mercury-Atlas 9 space mission. He later served in the Navy Reserve. He met the love of his life, Linda Carol Pelham of Dothan, Alabama, while home on leave from Hawaii. They married one year later and briefly lived in his mother’s home on Springdale in Druid Hills before moving to Richmond, VA, where they welcomed their only child, Debbie. The young family moved to Macon, GA, where Laurie attended undergraduate and law school. They lived in on-campus family housing, worked many jobs and enjoyed many happy times. Laurie excelled in law school and served as editor of law review and president of his law fraternity. In 1972, they moved to Marietta where Laurie began his practice of law, which continued until his retirement in 1996. Laurie was very active in his community, serving on non-profit boards, participating in local politics, heading the PTA at Hollydale Elementary, leading the booster club at McEachern High School, and teaching Sunday School at Hollydale Methodist and Roswell Street Baptist Churches. After retirement, he continued to volunteer at MUST Ministries, Children’s Literature for Children, Inc., and his Cherokee Falls neighborhood in Canton, GA, where the lake and park are now named after him. He and Linda were devoted grandparents spending an abundance of time with Walker and Mattie reading, exploring nature, gardening, cooking, and modelling unconditional love for the two grandchildren. He is survived and missed by his only child, Debbie, his son-in-law, Hix Green, his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Walker and Julie Green, and his granddaughter, Mattie Green, all of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by his older sister, Edith Nash of Tucker, GA, his sister-in-laws, Vonnie Davis of Douglasville, GA, Diane Knowles of Gainesville, GA, and Paula Grissett of Dothan AL, his brother-in-law Michael Pelham, and his wife Joan of Haleburg, AL, and many nieces and nephews in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, California, and Vermont, all of whom he dearly loved. Laurie was preceded in death by his parents Laura and Newman, his siblings Mary Nell Middlemore of San Diego, California, Mike Davis of Tucker, GA, Bill Davis of Douglasville, GA, and Ralph Davis of Cumming, GA. He was preceded in death two years ago by Linda, his wife of 57 years, and they are now enjoying a heavenly reunion. Laurie will be remembered for his generosity. His generous gifts of love, laughter, hugs, home-grown vegetables, BBQ, peanut brittle, advice, time, and talents were always appreciated and will be missed by his family and many friends. Laurie along with his wife Linda will be interred at the National Cemetery in Canton, GA, in a private service for the family. Memorial donations can be made to Children’s Literature for Children, Inc. at childrensliterature.org.

Laurie Calhoun Davis

August 19, 1941 - February 8, 2023