Ernest P. "Ernie" Davis

Ernest P. Davis, one of six children born to the union of the late Daniel W. Davis and the late Emily Jane Proctor Davis, was born Thursday, September 8, 1932, in Harrisburg, PA. Known as “Ernie” by family and friends, he graduated from the former William Penn High School and studied at the Wharton School of Finance of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Davis was a former member of St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Franklin R. Henley. There, he formerly served as Past Treasurer, Trustee and Financial Officer. Currently, he is a member of Baptist Fellowship Church and served as Business Consultant under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Winston D. Palmore. Mr. Davis was instrumental in acquiring a temporary church home for Baptist Fellowship and in finding a portion of land for the church’s future home site. Ernie’s impressive, successful trailblazing career was unparalleled. Rev. Franklin R. Henley encouraged him to enter the insurance business which he did in 1961. Within the first nine months into the insurance industry, he wrote in excess of one million dollars in coverage. Since that time, he has written millions of dollars of insurance annually and, as a result, has been a long-established Life Member of the Million Dollar Roundtable for forty-five years, an achievement attained by very few insurance professionals. From 1975 - 2000, he wrote in excess of nineteen million dollars’ worth of insurance each year, which included insurance pensions and tax-sheltered annuities. Ernie was a member of the Local and National Association for Life Underwriters. In August 1963, he was featured in "Ebony," "Jet," "Time" and other national publications in recognition of his accomplishments in the insurance industry. He was one of the first Black men representing a Black insurance company to write in excess of one million dollars in a year. Ernie served on the Waypoint Bank Board of Directors, the Board of Directors for the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) Foundation, Pinnacle Health Foundation and the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat Society, among other organizations. He is affiliated with New York Life from where he retired and many other insurance companies. Active in endeavors to enhance the quality of life in the community, his philanthropic investments have been demonstrated through his support of Pinnacle Health, YMCA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, HACC and many other nonprofit organizations. Ernie has held leadership positions as an officer of numerous community and service organizations including Dauphin County Housing Authority, Harrisburg Area YMCA, Dauphin County Crime Stoppers, Woodside/Schaffner Juvenile Detention Center, Central PA Chapter of the March of Dimes, United Way of the Capital Region, Dauphin County Executive Commission on Drugs & Alcohol, Bethesda Mission, Greater Harrisburg AIDS Alliance, Club Twenty-One, and others. Ernie is a Life Member of the NAACP and a Charter Member of Frontiers International Service Club. He has also been recognized for community service and excellence in business by the West Shore Kiwanis Club. A distinguished Mason, he received the highest honor of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, the Thirty-Third Degree, on May 26, 1997, in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1992, Ernie was honored by the Pennsylvania Council Deliberation of Scottish Rite as Mason of the Year. He was instrumental in saving the main Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia one-half million dollars in renovations and repairs to their facility. Ernie served as Past Master of Chosen Friends No. 43 and Past Potentate of Himyar No. 17; Nimrod 9 Grand Inspector General; and Harris 26 HRAM Companion. In addition to these stellar accomplishments, Ernie also served as Past Chairman of the Dauphin County Minority Task Force which works to ensure that minority-owned businesses have a fair competitive share of contracts, hiring policies and job advancement opportunities. Ernie was presented the YMCA Award for Black Achievers in Industry by the Harlem Branch in New York City in March 2000. In 2001, he received the Camp Curtin Branch YMCA Black Achievers in Industry Award which is presented to a person who is "achieving status in industry and is a motivator and pace setter for Black youth." Ernie had many interests including basketball, football, tennis and swimming. He held season tickets for the Philadelphia 76ers often attending with his cousin Proctor and attending the Baltimore Ravens home games with his nephew, Robert “Turt” Davis. Ernie also had a passion for automobiles having owned many makes and models to include Buick, Riviera and several Mercedes-Benz models among his collection. It was never Ernie’s desire to boast of his accomplishments, but to generously share and encourage other African Americans to know the same opportunities are available to everyone through hard work and determination. On Monday, November 11, 2024, Ernest P. Davis transitioned from time to eternity joining his parents, two brothers, Daniel William Davis, Bruce E. Davis; and three sisters, Ruth Baylor, Betty Jane Hymon and Pearl “Sissy” Johnson. Ernest P. Davis leaves an honorable, outstanding and loving legacy to be cherished by his children, two of whom are attorneys, one who is a physical therapist and one who is a devoted homemaker: daughters, Candace L. Rushiddin of California, Margo Early (Wyatt) of Harrisburg, PA, Valerie Ernice Spencer of Oberlin Gardens, PA; and son, Terrence Orel Davis (Dorothy) of Atlanta, GA. He will also be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Candace C. Wright, Bettina L. Wright, Arlynn Davis, Lerin Heyward, Sean Dantè Spencer (Abby); his great-grandchildren, Marina C. Butler, Samatrah L. Burroughs, Sage Valerie Spencer, Sloane Marcella Spencer, Zola Ann Spencer, Journey Amari Butler and Jordan Imari Butler; significant lady friend, Iris Lewis; along with other family members and friends. Masonic Service will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Wallace Funeral Directors, 106 Agnes Street, Harrisburg, PA. Funeral Service will be held at 12 Noon, Thursday, November 21, 2024, at The First Baptist Church of Steelton, 1850 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA, with viewing from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon. Interment will be at William Howard Day Cemetery. wallacefd.com Special thanks to 2nd and 4th Floor Medical Staff at UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital and the 2nd Floor Staff at the Helen Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CLICK ON THE SHARE A MEMORY TAB TO POST VIDEOS, SHARE MEMORIES, CONDOLENCES, REFLECTIONS OR SIMPLY LEAVE YOUR NAME.

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Ernest P. "Ernie" Davis

September 8, 1932 - November 11, 2024