A BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVIS MEMORIAL CEMETERY (DMC)
1880: William Henry Maxwell, a former slave, arrives in Titusville, FL.
1925: W. H. Maxwell was successful in the citrus industry & acquired DMC property
1952: Edward D. Davis, Jr., inherited properties from W. H. Maxwell.
1956: Edward D. Davis, Jr., dedicated over 3 acres as DMC for the black community.
1968: City resolution established and named right of way, Davis Place.
1969: Davis Cemetery renamed Davis Memorial Cemetery
1969-1987: Charles G. Davis managed DMC until his passing.
1987-2012: Rita M. Davis managed DMC until her passing.
2012-Present: Kirk A. Davis began tenure as DMC general manager.
2018: Netflix's "Last Chance U" featured THS athlete's homage to a fallen teammate
2019: Held first community flag ceremony for deceased veterans.
2022: DMC added to historic Florida Master Site File, BR04482
2022: Held first "Wreaths Across America" ceremony
2023: Member, Black Cemeterty Network (BCN) 06/12/23

IMPORTANT CONTENT
**DMC GPS INFO**
Enter this address: 1000 Davis Place Titusville, FL 32796

**DMC WEBSITE** Locate legacy memorials to loved ones here.
http://www.davismemorialcemetery.com

**BLACK CEMETERY NETWORK (BCN)**
https://blackcemeterynetwork.org/
The Black Cemetery Network [BCN] was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, places, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration.

**GIBSONIAN ARCHIVE**
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VxJ8CDfgQOqgKw3I373VLc5_6EDQubm_?usp=sharing
Titusville's compendium of local black history, historical insights and historical highlights.

**BLACK PIONEERS OF TITUSVILLE**
http://titusville150.blogspot.com
The local community is encouraged to see the legacy memorials dedicated to the Black Pioneers of Titusville.

**BE INSPIRED**
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1796/alex-haley
The legacy memorial of ALEX HALEY, the author of 'ROOTS' and 'THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X'.

**DAVIS FAMILY MILITARY VETS**
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLW6BiDOUDJ-yQQiVGRd9WzEghPPK4O0/view?usp=sharing

BIO
Greetings! My name is Kirk A. Davis, CDR, USCG (Ret.) I'm married with two children and two grandchildren. I'm a second-generation owner for the Davis Memorial Cemetery (DMC), an African American historic site, located at 1000 Davis Place in Titusville, FL. The DMC was established in 1956 by my uncle, Edward D. Davis, Jr., Founder, to serve our community . I am a member of the Oakridge Cemetery Board of Trustees, the Genealogical Society of North Brevard, the Historical Society of North Brevard and Museum, the Black Cemetery Network, the City of Titusville, Historic Preservation Board, and the North Brevard Chapter of NAACP. Every one of us has a story. Our goal is to allow your departed loved one's story to be told. The brief biographies presented at a home going service do not capture the whole story. However, they can serve as a starting point to learn more about the dearly departed. This tradition has a special significance to black families. Because blacks could not publish obituaries in the 1930's and 1940's, photos of loved ones, along with a full obituary, were given to funeral attendees. Davis Memorial Cemetery was established to provide a place of remembrance to cherish, honor and respect the legacy of our loved ones. We must always endeavor to preserve our family history, share our life story and strive to learn more about our families. I encourage you to take this journey. My personal journey of discovering my family legacy began more than thirty years ago, when I met and spent a brief time with the late Alex Haley, the author of 'ROOTS' and the 'Autobiography of Malcom X.' I was Mr. Haley's military escort for the entire day and during his participation in the Coast Guard Academy's 108th Graduation Commencement on May 4, 1989. Mr. Haley was the special honored guest, and he was conferred with the United States Coast Guard Academy's first Honorary Doctorate in Letters Degree. During my time with Mr. Haley, he shared many insights about his family and about his challenges and joys with his book ROOTS and other writings. The things I remember most about Alex Haley were his sincerity, his humility and his strong sense of family. His insights inspired me. In Alex Haley's most notable quotes, 'Find the Good and Praise it' and 'In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future', we are reminded to reflect on our individual family history, heritage and legacy. I hope that his words will continue to inspire and encourage you to pursue and commit to finding out more about your family genealogy. I recently discovered the FindAGrave website and smartphone app. These are great tools to help family members locate their deceased loved ones, to see their memorials, and to leave tributes. I will contribute available photos and write-ups for legacy memorials located within the DMC to enrich the experience of our visitors. Patrons are encouraged to contribute additional family history to me that will honor a loved one's memorial. I will gratefully add your new information to the memorial. DMC patrons are encouraged to access this website to assist them in sharing their family's legacy, history and genealogical information with current and future generations. If patrons wish to have a memorial transferred or removed, please contact me and I will comply. You are invited to click on the FindAGrave links to see memorial postings, to share your family history, and to explore our community's heritage...Best regards, Kirk

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVIS MEMORIAL CEMETERY (DMC)
1880: William Henry Maxwell, a former slave, arrives in Titusville, FL.
1925: W. H. Maxwell was successful in the citrus industry & acquired DMC property
1952: Edward D. Davis, Jr., inherited properties from W. H. Maxwell.
1956: Edward D. Davis, Jr., dedicated over 3 acres as DMC for the black community.
1968: City resolution established and named right of way, Davis Place.
1969: Davis Cemetery renamed Davis Memorial Cemetery
1969-1987: Charles G. Davis managed DMC until his passing.
1987-2012: Rita M. Davis managed DMC until her passing.
2012-Present: Kirk A. Davis began tenure as DMC general manager.
2018: Netflix's "Last Chance U" featured THS athlete's homage to a fallen teammate
2019: Held first community flag ceremony for deceased veterans.
2022: DMC added to historic Florida Master Site File, BR04482
2022: Held first "Wreaths Across America" ceremony
2023: Member, Black Cemeterty Network (BCN) 06/12/23

IMPORTANT CONTENT
**DMC GPS INFO**
Enter this address: 1000 Davis Place Titusville, FL 32796

**DMC WEBSITE** Locate legacy memorials to loved ones here.
http://www.davismemorialcemetery.com

**BLACK CEMETERY NETWORK (BCN)**
https://blackcemeterynetwork.org/
The Black Cemetery Network [BCN] was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, places, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration.

**GIBSONIAN ARCHIVE**
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VxJ8CDfgQOqgKw3I373VLc5_6EDQubm_?usp=sharing
Titusville's compendium of local black history, historical insights and historical highlights.

**BLACK PIONEERS OF TITUSVILLE**
http://titusville150.blogspot.com
The local community is encouraged to see the legacy memorials dedicated to the Black Pioneers of Titusville.

**BE INSPIRED**
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1796/alex-haley
The legacy memorial of ALEX HALEY, the author of 'ROOTS' and 'THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X'.

**DAVIS FAMILY MILITARY VETS**
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLW6BiDOUDJ-yQQiVGRd9WzEghPPK4O0/view?usp=sharing

BIO
Greetings! My name is Kirk A. Davis, CDR, USCG (Ret.) I'm married with two children and two grandchildren. I'm a second-generation owner for the Davis Memorial Cemetery (DMC), an African American historic site, located at 1000 Davis Place in Titusville, FL. The DMC was established in 1956 by my uncle, Edward D. Davis, Jr., Founder, to serve our community . I am a member of the Oakridge Cemetery Board of Trustees, the Genealogical Society of North Brevard, the Historical Society of North Brevard and Museum, the Black Cemetery Network, the City of Titusville, Historic Preservation Board, and the North Brevard Chapter of NAACP. Every one of us has a story. Our goal is to allow your departed loved one's story to be told. The brief biographies presented at a home going service do not capture the whole story. However, they can serve as a starting point to learn more about the dearly departed. This tradition has a special significance to black families. Because blacks could not publish obituaries in the 1930's and 1940's, photos of loved ones, along with a full obituary, were given to funeral attendees. Davis Memorial Cemetery was established to provide a place of remembrance to cherish, honor and respect the legacy of our loved ones. We must always endeavor to preserve our family history, share our life story and strive to learn more about our families. I encourage you to take this journey. My personal journey of discovering my family legacy began more than thirty years ago, when I met and spent a brief time with the late Alex Haley, the author of 'ROOTS' and the 'Autobiography of Malcom X.' I was Mr. Haley's military escort for the entire day and during his participation in the Coast Guard Academy's 108th Graduation Commencement on May 4, 1989. Mr. Haley was the special honored guest, and he was conferred with the United States Coast Guard Academy's first Honorary Doctorate in Letters Degree. During my time with Mr. Haley, he shared many insights about his family and about his challenges and joys with his book ROOTS and other writings. The things I remember most about Alex Haley were his sincerity, his humility and his strong sense of family. His insights inspired me. In Alex Haley's most notable quotes, 'Find the Good and Praise it' and 'In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future', we are reminded to reflect on our individual family history, heritage and legacy. I hope that his words will continue to inspire and encourage you to pursue and commit to finding out more about your family genealogy. I recently discovered the FindAGrave website and smartphone app. These are great tools to help family members locate their deceased loved ones, to see their memorials, and to leave tributes. I will contribute available photos and write-ups for legacy memorials located within the DMC to enrich the experience of our visitors. Patrons are encouraged to contribute additional family history to me that will honor a loved one's memorial. I will gratefully add your new information to the memorial. DMC patrons are encouraged to access this website to assist them in sharing their family's legacy, history and genealogical information with current and future generations. If patrons wish to have a memorial transferred or removed, please contact me and I will comply. You are invited to click on the FindAGrave links to see memorial postings, to share your family history, and to explore our community's heritage...Best regards, Kirk