Russell Raymond Davis Jr.

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of a very exceptional man, Russell Raymond Davis, Jr. He passed away at the age of 76 in the comfort of his home on September 24, 2022. He was a Native American Indian and the Eldest Tribal Member of Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California located in Middletown, CA. Russell was born in San Francisco, CA on February 18, 1946 and lived there until his parents divorced and his mother and two sisters moved back home to Middletown Rancheria. A few years later, he moved back to San Francisco and lived with his grandmother until his mother and step-father came and relocated their family to Panama City, FL. Russell graduated in 1964 from Bay High School in Panama City. After graduation, he worked as a commercial fisherman and would be on the boat for weeks at a time. He also worked as a lifeguard after his involvement with the teen club at the Tyndall Air Force Base that is also located in Panama City. Within the next few years, he decided to move to Atlanta, GA to pursue his passion for art. He worked briefly at Munford as a mail carrier where he met his soulmate and love of his life, Shirley. He started his own sign business in 1974 called “Russ Davis Signs and Designs” and did a lot of work for customers for many years. In fact, he technically never retired from it. It was truly his passion. He also worked at Six Flags in the Art and Sign Department and did lots of artwork for them, for example, airbrushing the laser tag room and doing the Batman sign for the Batman ride. Russell was a huge Batman fanatic! Russell and Shirley got married on September 25, 1970. He loved Shirley with all of his heart. They loved traveling to the mountains to watch different shows and performances. They also didn’t mind just sitting at home and enjoying each other. Russell had two bonus children, Tammy and Robbie, and a daughter of his own, Linda. He loved his children very much. As the family grew with grandchildren and great grandchildren, he became very close to them as well. He was very close to his family and loved talking to them on the phone and visiting. Russell had a lot of interests and hobbies such as old western movies, Marvel movies, drawing, singing, playing piano, and karaoke. He also loved telling jokes. Russell is preceded in death by his wife, Shirley McCart Davis; his daughter, Tammy Lorayne Harper; his mother, Betty Winifred Olsen Davis Nitka; his father, Russell Raymond Davis, Sr.; his step father, Joseph M. Nitka; his sisters, Lisa Ramona Davis Bunch and Lora Diane Davis; his brother, John Anthony Nitka and his great nephew, Michael Ryan Bunch. Russell is survived my his children, Linda Davis Fryer (David), Fayetteville, GA and Charles Robert Harper, Jr. (Robin), Douglasville, GA; his five grandchildren, Milisa Diane Ziegler (Ryan), Wahiawa, HI ; Robert Russell Harper (Nicole), Loganville, GA; Amber Davis Howell (Zack), Newnan, GA; Alayna Lyra Sterling, Los Angeles, CA and Ashton Presley Dobbs, Fayetteville, GA; his five great grandchildren, Ethan Gene Harper, Caden Matthew Gerald, Ava Nicole Howell, Russell Dean Howell, and Jackson Lee Howell; his four brothers, Michael Nitka (Heidi), Tucson, AZ; Dr. James Nitka, Greensboro, NC; Paul Nitka (Gigi),Tucson, AZ and Lawrence Nitka (Shawnda), Tucson, AZ; his niece, Sally Renee’ Bunch Peterson, Middletown, CA; his nephews, Russell Aaron Bunch (Kristen), Middletown, CA and Maurice Gary Bunch, Jr. (Wonda), Panama City, FL; along with several other wonderful nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family will be having a memorial service on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 at 1:30pm at SouthernCremations & Funerals at Holly Hill. The address is 431 SW Broad St. Fairburn, GA 30213.