Dr. Henry Gordon Davis Jr., MD, 104, of Sylvester, died on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at his residence. Dr. Davis was a leader within the Georgia Academy and the AAFP and, as a past President of the Georgia Academy, and worked tirelessly during his years on the Board to serve his fellow members. Those who knew Dr. Davis knew him to be an amazing leader and informed member during his tenure on the Board. As proof, Dr. Davis deservedly received the GAFP’s Family Physician of the Year award, our highest honor, in 1982. Dr. Davis was also a 1980 recipient of the Medical Association of Georgia’s Distinguished Service Award.
He was a graduate of the University of Georgia, followed by studying at the University of Georgia School of Medicine, now Medical College of Georgia and received his Medical Degree in 1945. After a brief stint in the Army following his medical school internship, he practiced family medicine in Sylvester from 1948 until his retirement in 1995, including the delivery of 3,465 babies including two of his daughters and six grandchildren.
Dr. Davis realized a need in the community to care for the elderly and infirm who were no longer able to care for themselves, and first built Georgia Care, Inc (now Pruitt Health Sylvester) in 1964, followed by Georgia Care of Tifton, Inc (now Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia) in 1966 and Georgia Care of Albany, Inc (now Pruitt Health-Albany) in 1967.
Dr. Davis was a Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) Board Trustee and generous donor to the Alliance and the GAFP Board of Directors donated $500 to the GHFA in his honor as a past president of the GAFP.
He was remarkable man and physician and will truly be missed!