WWI Snapshot: Vane Lester Davis 1889-1946

NC WWI Service Card

NY WWI Service Card

Vane Lester Davis was born in Southport, NC, on April 5, 1889. He registered for the WWI draft on June 5, 1917. At the time, he was a Stationary Engineer employed by Columbia University, living in Queens.

The NY WWI Service Card shows he was appointed Lieutenant, junior grade, in the US Navy on November 21, 1917. His residence was listed as Southport. He was never mobilized. The NC WWI Service Card shows he enlisted in the Coast Guard on December 4, 1917. He served at Coast Guard Station 193 (Cape Fear) until his honorable discharge on December 3, 1918.

On January 11, 1919, Lester Davis requested a Seaman’s Certificate. This photo was included.

Vane Lester Davis passed away at age 57 on May 16, 1946. The following obituary was published on the front page of The State Port Pilot on May 22, 1946.

Lester Davis Is Buried Monday

Native of Southport, But Death Occurred Last Week in Brooklyn, N.Y., Where He Was Making His Home

Funeral services for Lester Davis, of Southport who died in Brooklyn, N.Y., were held Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock at St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church in Southport. The Rev. Alexander Miller, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal church, Wilmington, officiated and burial followed in the family cemetery.

Born in Southport, he was the son of Mrs. Fannie G. Davis and the late Captain Dumbar [Dunbar] Davis of this city.

Surviving in addition to his mother are a daughter, Mrs. R. R. Shellhammer [Shellhamer], Louisville, Ky., and her son, Robert Wesley; two sisters, Mrs. Mattie E. Aspinwall, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Mrs. S.L. Brinkman, Southport; and two brothers, J.M. Davis 404 South 17th St., Wilmington; and W.D. Davis, Southport.

Members of the American Legion, Brunswick County Post 195 were the active pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers were E.R. Weeks, Price Furpless, J.L. Davis, J.P. Cranmer, P.I. Martz, W.G. Wells, C.A. Fox, J.T. Moore, B.J. Holden, F.G. Dosher, Harry Weeks, Clarence Onpon, C.E. Gause, A.C Sell.

Vane Lester Davis was laid to rest in Old Morse Cemetery in Brunswick County, NC. A military flat marker was requested by his mother on October 7, 1946, but is not shown in findagrave.


To view this or an earlier profile or snapshot at any time, click on the veteran’s name on the WWI Brunswick County Veteran list, which is also accessible by the blue button on the top right of the webpage.

If you would like to help us honor Vane Lester Davis or another Brunswick County WWI veteran, please use the following links:

Click here for the announcement:
Announcement: Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran
Click here for directions to donate and honor a veteran:
How to Honor a Brunswick County World War I Veteran

Comments Off on WWI Snapshot: Vane Lester Davis 1889-1946

Filed under Honor a Veteran, Veteran Snapshot

Comments are closed.