Charles “Chuck” William Davis, Jr., age 67, passed away on October 1, 2025, in McKinney, Texas. He was born on January 4, 1958, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to his loving parents Charles William Davis, Sr. and Delores Eloise (Nellums) Davis.
Chuck grew up in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Texas, graduating from Whitesboro High School in 1976. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Hardin-Simmons University and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
As a student at HSU, Chuck was active in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Alpha Chi, and Baptist Student Ministries. A gifted musician, he was an All-State Texas tuba player, performed with the “World Famous” Hardin-Simmons Cowboy Band — traveling with them on the 1984 European Tour — and also played with the Raider Band at Texas Tech University.
It was at Hardin-Simmons that Chuck met the love of his life, Elaine Martin, marrying her in 1983. Together they raised two children — Daniel, a pastor in Washington, D.C., and Allison, a graduate student at HSU.
Chuck discovered a love for international living as a summer missionary in Morocco. He and Elaine later served as Journeymen with the International Mission Board in Taiwan. After seminary, he entered campus ministry with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, serving as a Baptist Student Minister at Southwestern Medical School, Houston Christian University, and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. He also led medical mission projects in Mexico and Central America.
In 1999, Chuck joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. Over a 20-year career, he represented U.S. interests in China, London, Jordan, Singapore, Israel, Nicaragua, and Mexico, specializing in embassy management and consular affairs. His career highlights included coordinating humanitarian evacuations, assisting U.S. citizens following the London Underground bombings, and organizing official visits for three U.S. presidents. For his service, Chuck received multiple honors, including the Meritorious Honor Award and the Franklin Award, recognizing his efforts to strengthen American citizenship.
No matter his location, Chuck always poured his heart into the local church, using his seminary training and musical gifts to serve God’s people. He preached and taught adult Sunday school in churches from Israel to the UK, even helping to plant an international church in Beijing.
Upon his retirement, Chuck served as a trustee at Hardin-Simmons University, where he was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2023. While on the Board, he helped the university craft and formalize its Statement of Faith. In 2011, he was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, exemplifying HSU’s mission of faith, scholarship, and service.
Throughout his years, Chuck enjoyed playing the piano, reading, hiking, watching movies and documentaries, coaching baseball, and sharing and teaching biblical truth. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Davis of McKinney, Texas; children, John Daniel Davis and wife Hannah of Washington, D.C., and Allison Michelle Davis of Abilene, Texas; sister, Julie Barclay and husband Tommy of Abilene, Texas; several nieces and nephews; and a host of extended loving family members, friends, and colleagues who will miss him dearly and forever cherish his memory.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Delores Davis.
The family will receive guests during a visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 6, 2025, at First Baptist Church, 7901 Main St, Frisco, Texas 75034. The service will be livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/@FriscoFirst
Following the funeral, a procession will make its way to Ridgeview Memorial Park, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013 for a graveside service.
Memorial gifts may be directed to the International Mission Board and the Hardin-Simmons University Annual Scholarship Fund.