Davis Eppes passed away Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at The Canopy at Azalea Grove in Valdosta, GA. Davis and his twin sister were born in Teague, Texas on January 31, 1937. Their parents were taken to the hospital in Teague on a rail car in a snowstorm which had prevented them from driving to the hospital. Davis was named after the man on the rail car who got them to Teague.
He grew up on a farm in Freestone, Texas. As a young boy, he milked the family cow for their milk and worked on the farm growing and picking cotton. He was the fastest cotton picker of everyone including the paid and unpaid workers.
Davis attended a 2room community school in Freestone until High School and graduated from Teague High School in 1955. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a B.S. in Agriculture in 1960 and also graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity in 1976.
After college, rather than joining his dad in working on the family farm, he decided to go into business owning an ESSO Service Station in Houston, TX, which later became ENCO, then finally became EXXON. Davis decided to sell the station and buy a Western Auto in Leesville, LA. Later, Davis sold the store because he had been called to preach and then began his seminary education in New Orleans.
Upon graduation, he moved the family to Miles City, MT where Miles City Baptist Church had called him as their pastor. He later served as pastor at Watertown Baptist Church in Watertown, SD. These two churches were in the Pioneer Missions branch of the Home Mission Board for the Southern Baptist Convention. He also pastored in Georgetown Baptist Church in Georgetown, LA; Sandy Hill Baptist Church at Fort Polk, LA; and a small Baptist church in Hornbeck, LA.
Davis then returned to self-employment and bought an Exxon station in Livingston, TX and filled the pulpit in local churches as needed. He later made one more move before retiring to Waynesboro, MS., where he bought a Western Auto store. After he retired Davis and his wife, Jeanne returned to Texas in Hilltop Lakes and were members of Marquez Baptist Church. They recently, moved to Adel, GA to live near their son and daughter-in-law.
As young children, he and his twin sister, Mavis, attended Vacation Bible School. During VBS, they were on the see-saw and together they talked about inviting Jesus into their hearts. His sister spread her arms open all the way and said, “Jesus loves us this much.”
For anyone reading this who doesn’t know Jesus, Davis would say, “God sent Jesus into this world to save you from your sins. Please accept him as your savior today.”
Survivors include his wife of 63 years on February 19, 1962 in Houston, TX., Jeanne Eppes of Adel, GA; son, Kerry Glen (Lisa) Eppes of Adel, GA; daughters, Sherry Lyn (John) Bolduc of Pearland, TX, and Aimee Gwyn (Victor) Mamich of Ridgefield, WA; grandchildren, Holly Meehan, Jenna Holt, and Kyle Eppes; great grandchildren, Cooper Meehan, Max Meehan, Lewis Holt, Charles Holt, Waylon Eppes, and Weston Eppes; and 10 nieces & nephews. Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis Richmond Eppes and Ruth Haynie Eppes; brother, Haynie Eppes; and sisters, Addie Sue Ivy, Reba Jo Irwin, and Mavis Eppes.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Marquez Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne Ramsey officiating.
