Gerald L. ‘Jake’ Davis Jr.

He was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1953.

Jerry is survived by his two brothers, William F. ‘Jeff’ Davis and Gregory P. Davis; and his sister, Beverly Anne Davis Wamsley, all of whom today reside in North Central West Virginia; and by several nieces and nephews.

Jerry’s father, Gerald Lee ‘Burlap’ Davis Sr., passed away in 2002, and his mother, Velma Loraine (Lowe) Davis passed in 1987.

Jerry met, then married his beloved wife, Judith Monastra (of Mansfield, Ohio) in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in March 1986. Judy passed away in Nov. of 2016.

A graduate of West Virginia University (WVU), School of Journalism, (BS 1975), and later achieved a master’s degree, he spent the summer of 1975 in Rome, Italy as an intern (a news “stringer”) for CBS News broadcast journalist Frank Kearns.

After returning to WVU in Morgantown, West Virginia, from Europe, while completing his master’s degree, Jake formally began his journalism career working for WVU University Relations as a radio news reporter and for the WVU Athletic Department as sports cinematographer. In Morgantown he organized several day-long film festivals for his close friends.

He moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1978 to become Program Director at WIPU FM located on a regional campus of Indiana University where he developed expertise in and love for classical music as an on-air announcer. Later, working for Public Broadcasting of Northeast Indiana, he conducted a feasibility study for a proposed public television station. He also helped establish WBNI FM, public radio for Northeast Indiana.

Modifying his professional path in the 1980s, Jake honed his investigational research, marketing and writing skills. He began a corporate career at Central Soya Company, as assistant to the president and director of investor relations. Across town, Lincoln National Corp recruited Jerry as an Assistant VP to manage a billion-dollar spinoff of its health insurance subsidiary. This launched another career change into the field of health insurance marketing and consulting.

In 1995, Jerry and Judy Davis moved from Fort Wayne to Columbia, South Carolina, where Jerry launched The Greenbriar Group Consultants, performing consulting work for Heads-Up Health, Nolan Consulting, QualMed, Hill & Knowlton and Blue Shield of California.

Jerry served as a board member for the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville, South Carolina, and on the boards of The United Way of the Midlands, Cultural Council of Richland-Lexington Counties, the SC ETV Advisory Board and other community nonprofit and charitable organizations.

But Jerry never forgot his journalism roots. In 2012, Jerry released his Emmy Award winning video documentary: “Franks Kearns, American Correspondent.” Subsequently, he authored, “Algerian Diary: Frank Kearns and the Impossible Assignment for CBS News,” published by WVU Press in 2016.

When he passed, Jerry, a dedicated WVU football and basketball fan, was working on a screenplay about the fictionalized life of alleged CIA operative/journalist Frank Kearns and a book of his own personal humorous memoirs. He had several real estate projects in the planning or execution phase.

With an affection for Kenya, his next African safari was in the formative stage. He was considering the purchase of his next exotic electric vehicle and searching for the next hot stock investment.

He was a loving husband, brother, uncle, friend and mentor to many. He will be greatly missed by everyone whom he touched. His kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity will be forever in our hearts and on our minds.

His family and friends wish to express its deep and heartfelt thanks to the many healthcare professionals who contributed to his care over the past 10 years. Memorial contributions should be made to the United Way of Randolph County or the United Way of the Midlands, South Carolina, or to the non-profit Trinity Housing Corporation in Columbia, South Carolina.