Gerald "Jerry" Davidson, Sr.

Gerald “Jerry” Davidson of Magnolia Springs, Ala., died August 1, 2025 at 97 years of age.

Born to Stella Rebecca Powell Davidson and Thomas John Davidson in Bay Minette, Ala., in March 1928, Davidson was a year younger than what is typically considered the “Greatest Generation.” But his life and legacy leave no doubt that he earned full membership.

It’s impossible to do justice to a near-century of living, loving, and serving. Yet start here: at age 16, Davidson dropped out of Baldwin County High School to enlist in the US Navy during World War II. He served on a fuel tanker in the Pacific for almost three years, joining four of his siblings in the wartime services. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Navy in May 1946.

He returned home to Bay Minette, captained the football team (earning induction into the BCHS sports Hall of Fame in 1995), graduated from high school, and, most importantly, met Barbara Ann “Babs” Bodden. More on that shortly.

After high school, Davidson entered Auburn University before again delaying his formal education to serve his country during the Korean War. He enlisted in the US Army, from which he was honorably discharged in February 1952. He then elected to remain in the Alabama Army National Guard for another three decades and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1980. Davidson’s Guard service included manning a command center with then-Governor Fob James to coordinate response and rescue efforts during Hurricane Frederick in 1979. He said one of his proudest moments in the military was graduating with honors from the Army Commanding General Staff College.

Davidson’s civilian professional life covered 38 years at Alabama Power Company, from which he retired as a marketing supervisor in 1989. Along the way, he returned to school, determined to earn a college degree. He did so at 45 years old, graduating summa cum laude from Troy State University and winning 14 academic awards. He achieved that while caring for seven children with his wife, Babs, working full time, doing regular National Guard drill and officiating high school football and basketball games.  

Davidson was justly proud of his military service and business career. But his greatest joy and most profound legacy is his sprawling family. Babs and Jerry married in 1948. In 72 years of marriage, they raised seven children, more than four dozen grandchildren and great grandchildren, and created a bottomless store of memories. Earlier this year, a great-granddaughter gave birth to his and Babs’ first great-great grandchild. To the grands and greats, he was “Papa” and Babs was “Meme.”

A child of the Great Depression and World War II veteran, Davidson had a steadfast work ethic. He was stubborn and tough as old rawhide. After all, the man lived 97 years and four months on a diet of meat and potatoes. He rebounded from a heart bypass in his 60s, a severed finger years later, and a broken neck that prompted two emergency surgeries at the age of 90.

But Daddy/Papa was a gentle, kind soul at bottom and could be a softie when it came to his family. Since Babs died in 2020, Jerry visited her grave weekly -- often driving himself even at age 97 -- leaving flowers, shedding tears and sharing a few words. Davidson’s six living children were with him as he peacefully passed on to be with Babs once and for all.

Along with her, he was preceded in death by a son, John Wheyland Davidson, a great grandson, Wesley Dixon Janes, all seven of his siblings, and his parents and in-laws, Edith Wheyland and Charles Anthony Bodden.

Visitation is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. with ceremony at 2 in the Norris Funeral Home chapel in Bay Minette, Ala., on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Burial with military honors will follow at Bay Minette Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

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