Racine Davis Jr.

Racine Davis, Jr., 92, was born September 6, 1932, in Omaha, GA to Mary Jo Davis (Young) and Ra cine Davis, Sr. He died peacefully on the morning of April 24, 2025, at the Kairos Dwelling Hospice Care Home, Kalamazoo, MI.

He accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of Union Memorial AME Church. As a young child the Davis family moved to Columbus, GA. Around the age of 15, Racine moved to Cleveland, OH where he attended Cleveland Central High School. A few years later he moved to Benton Harbor, MI where at the age of 18 (1950) he landed a job with Auto Specialties, St. Joseph, MI.

By April 1953, Racine had met and married the love of his life Bethel Mae Butler; they shared a long and loving marriage. Racine served in the U.S. Army from June 1955 to June 1957 stationed at Fort Sill, OK, receiving an Honorable Discharge. He was a decorated marksman (carbine) and sharpshooter (rifle). He retired in 1988 from Auto Specialties. After retirement, Racine worked as the Kitchen Supervisor at the former Mercy Hospital, Benton Harbor, MI, then as a cook at the former Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, MI. Finally, he worked as a driver for the Berrien County Meals on Wheels program.

Racine had a fun-loving, joyful spirit with a great smile and friendly way with people. He loved host ing New Year’s Eve parties, dancing, and fooling family and friends with his coin and card tricks. Racine loved traveling as he often drove to Cleveland, OH, Omaha, GA, and Chicago, IL with other family trips to Florida, California, New York, Canada, and throughout Michigan including the Upper Peninsula. Racine represented Auto Specialties on the Board of the Berrien County United Way and was the President of the Local 793 Union at Auto Specialties. He could be counted on to help family and friends through hard times, making repairs around their home, or using his truck to move things from one house to another. He loved his old-school R & B music and would fondly reminisce about his many drives to Georgia and how he’d never allow another car to pass him along the way.

Racine leaves behind his beloved family members: daughter Kimberly Davis; sons Anthony (Renee) Davis, Roscoe (Greta) Davis. He also leaves behind a cherished sister, Ms. Julia Joseph, 12 grand children, 19 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very special friends.

Preceding him in death are his wife Bethel Mae Davis (Butler), sons: Larry Davis, Alex Davis, and Vincent Davis; his parents Mary Jo and Racine Davis, Sr., sisters: Doris Davis, Lucille Jackson, Louise Phillips, Hattie Mae Henry, Carrie Jenkins, Jewell Holiday; and brothers: David Davis, Sr., Archie Davis, Sr.

Memorials: May be made to Kairos Dwelling Hospice Care, 2945 Gull Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49048, in Memory of Racine Davis, Jr; (269) 381-3688; kairosdwelling@aol.com    

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