Willis Davis

At Northstar Promenade, 1990

Willis Emmitt Davis
aka Sonny
03 Dec 1955 - 03 Sep 1992

Clubs & Associations

DC Lambda Squares

Quicks Facts

partner of Bruce Bone

Media Features

The AIDS Memorial^[1]

Obituary

Willis Emmitt (Sonny) Davis
Born December 3, 1955, in Amarillo, Sonny died of AIDS on September 3 in Washington, D.C.

A graduate of Texas Tech and South Texas College of Law, Davis owned Spud-U-Like in Houston before moving to Washington in 1986 to practice law. He was a film, and book enthusiast and a member of Washington gay square dance club.

Survivors include his companion Bruce Bone of Washington, his parents and immediate family of Amarillo.

A memorial service was held in Washington. Donations may be made to Food & Friends, P.O. Box 70601, Washington, D.C. 20024.^[2]

IN MEMORY OF
Willis E. (Sonny Davis)
Willis Emmett (Sonny) Davis was born on Dec. 3, 1955 in Amarillo, Tx. For the last 36 years, he lived life consistently in search of a greater knowledge and understanding of the world, and always with an innocence that kept him and those around him young. He died peacefully of complications associated with AIDS on Sept. 3 at home surrounded by his family and friends.

His early years were spent in Amarillo before moving to Lubbock, Texas to attend Texas Tech University where he earned where he earned a Bachelor of Economics in international trade and a Master of Business Administration in finance in 1980. After graduation, he moved to Houston, where he owned and operated The Spud-U-Like, a specialty restaurant, until 1985. He worked as accountant for the Montrose Voice and attended law school, receiving a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1986.

He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1986, where he worked at the law firms of Epstein Becker and Amram and Hahn. He enrolled un the University of Maryland where he earned a Masters of Library Science in 1989. Upon graduation, he joined the law firm of Dewey Ballantine as their reference librarian, a position he held until his retirement on medical disability in March of this year.

He loved history. An avid reader, he read three to four books a week, many of them historical studies. A film buff since childhood, he had an extensive collection including everything from silent movies to current releases and everything in between. His favorite movie star was Bette Davis, and his friends will always remember him when they see a Davis film. His love for music was equally diverse, focusing on the soulful melodies of Ella Fitzgerald and the soaring arias of classical opera. But the music he loved most was the songs of Barbara Streisand, which took him to better worlds and comforted him in his last days. In 1988 he joined D.C. Lambda Squares, and square dancing became a passion. Other hobbies included snow skiing, travel and cooking.

Hi survive by his companion of 16 years, Bruce Bone of Washington, D.C; his parents Bob and Billie Davis of Amarillo; his sisters Renee Sabedra and Sharee Hightower, also of Amarillo; two nieces and three nephews; his close friend Kevin Kevin Johnson of Washington D.C., his dogs, Sally and Lasagne, and scores of others who will never forget his smile, his joy in living, his endurance in illness, and victory over it in the dignity of his death.^[3]