Davis, Oliver Jennings Jr.
Pepperdine Mourns the Loss of Professor Emeritus Oliver Jennings Davis, Jr. (MA ’76)
Oliver Jennings Davis, Jr. (MA ’76), Professor
Emeritus at the Pepperdine University Graduate
School of Education and Psychology, passed away on
November 30, 2016. He was 89. Born on July 30, 1927,
in Nashville, Tennessee, Davis was a lifelong member
of Churches of Christ. After being honorably
discharged from the United States Army in November
1946, he enrolled at David Lipscomb College, where
he was an outstanding athlete in both basketball and
tennis. In 1991 he was inducted into the Lipscomb Hall
of Fame for his stellar sports records. Upon graduation
in 1950, Davis attended Ohio State University where he earned his MEd and then returned home to marry Vera Howard
of Sparta, Tennessee, on July 7, 1951. In 1953 the couple moved to New York City where he pursued and earned his
EdD from Columbia University, Teachers College.
After several more years of teaching and preaching in Nashville, and after the birth of daughters, Carol and Elizabeth,
Davis moved the family to Los Angeles in 1963 to become the director of student personnel services (later known as
dean of students) at George Pepperdine College, where he was a tireless and outspoken advocate for racial and social
justice. Davis filled many positions at Pepperdine, including teaching religious ethics at the former School of
Professional Studies, and teaching liberal studies at the School of Business and Management (now Graziadio School
of Business and Management), culminating in full tenure at the Graduate
School of Education and Psychology. During this time, Davis and his wife
welcomed their third daughter, Shirley. In 2011 Pepperdine University
established in his honor the Bowers, Davis, and Todd Award for Leadership
in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence. The award recognizes students who
demonstrate an active commitment to advancing institutional diversity and
inclusive excellence at Seaver College.
A devoted Christian, Davis spent his entire life serving Christ by helping
others—as a minister and elder, dean of students, professor, counselor, and
mentor to so many. He lived with an open and generous heart, truly
demonstrating the teachings of Christ, which will be his enduring legacy. Davis is survived by his wife, Vera;
daughters, Carol, Elizabeth, and Shirley; and grandchildren, Cameron, Geoffrey, Olivia, and Harper.
A memorial service will be held at the Conejo Valley Church of Christ at 2 PM on Saturday, December 3, 2016.To
commemorate Jennings’ passion for racial justice and his love for Pepperdine students, the family requests that
contributions be made to the Pepperdine University Black Alumni Council Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made
online at give.pepperdine.edu/bac/scholarship.
Oliver Jennings Davis, Jr., 89, died peacefully on November 30, 2016, in Oak Park, CA, in the presence of his wife,
Vera, and daughters, Carol, Elizabeth, and Shirley. He was born on July 30, 1927, in Nashville, TN, and is survived
by his wife and daughters, his sons-in-law-Brad, Valery, and James-and four grandchildren: Cameron, Geoffrey,
Olivia, and Harper. A devoted Christian man, caring, wise, and compassionate, Jennings spent his entire life serving
Christ by helping others-as a minister and elder, as Dean of Students and professor at Pepperdine University, as a
counselor, and as a husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, and mentor to so many. Jennings lived with an open
and generous heart, truly living by the teachings of Christ and this will be his enduring legacy. In his honor, the
Pepperdine flag will fly at half-mast on campus today. The memorial service will take place today, December 3, at 2
p.m., at Conejo Valley Church of Christ (2525 East Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA). In lieu of flowers, to honor
Jennings' passion for racial justice and his love for Pepperdine students, we invite you to contribute to Pepperdine's
Black Alumni Council Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made online at give.pepperdine.edu/bac/scholarship, or
by sending a check to The Pepperdine Fund (24255 PCH, Malibu, CA 90263-4579) with "BAC Scholarship" in the
memo.
HALL OF FAME Jennings Davis
TYPE Athlete
YEAR INDUCTED 1991
Jennings played both basketball and tennis for Lipscomb University from 1946-1950. On the basketball court Jennings was consistently one of the Bisons' top scorers during his playing days. Known for his outstanding shooting ability, especially from the free throw line, Jennings was captain of the 1949-50 basketball team. Jennings was also an outstanding tennis player. Besides being one of the Bisons' top singles players, Jennings teamed up with fellow Hall of Fame member George McIntosh to form one of Lipscomb's all-time best doubles teams on the tennis court. Jennings worked at Lipscomb University from 1953-63 during which time he served in several different capacities including Men's Tennis Coach, Men's Basketball Coach, Director of Athletics, and Chairman of the Physical Education Department for eight years. After
leaving Lipscomb, Jennings went to work for Pepperdine University, where he served as Dean of Students for twelve years and also taught in the School of Business. Currently, Jennings teaches in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Jennings Davis, Jr. will always be considered one of Lipscomb's great student athletes who committed his life to education.
From the December 2, 1956, Tennessean’s Religion in Life series
Let Us Hasten to Christ, Like the Wise Men of Old, by Jennings Davis, Jr., Minister, Otter Creek Church of Christ, Nashville
The holiday season calls us back to the real values and aspirations of life. The joy, hospitality, and consideration that abounds is a refreshing change from those factors that are destroying the home at an alarming rate. The gifts, carols, and cards express a goodness that contradicts so much that we do the rest of the year.
Somehow we are able at this time of year to achieve those great hopes announced by the angels the night He was born: (1) Glory to God, (2) Peace on earth. (3) Good will among men.
Aren’t these the goals toward which we all want to move? Aren’t these, in fact, the essential blessings of the religion of Christ? Through Him we can behave in ways that glorify God. Through Him every man can experience peace of soul. Through Him all men can dwell in harmony and good will in the church.
During this month of frantic, frenzied, and frightening spending, let’s allow the warm glow of Divine love penetrate so deeply that we will “hasten” to Him like the wise men and shepherds with gifts and worship. We will be amazed to find that our departure from His side will be by “another way”—a new and everlasting way— the straight and narrow way—THE WAY.