[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 96 (Monday, June 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE REV. DR. PHILLIP WEBSTER DAVIS, SR.

 Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 100th 
birthday of my constituent the Reverend Doctor Phillip Webster Davis, 
Sr. It is my pleasure to celebrate him on this special occasion and to 
share the details of his extraordinary life, his dedication to our 
community, and his service to our country.
  The Rev. Dr. Davis grew up in a household guided by family and faith. 
He was born the seventh of eight sons--and even at an early age, he 
quickly learned the values of brotherhood, community, loyalty, and 
love. His father, Reverend James William Davis, pastored at Mt. Calvary 
Baptist Church in Rockville, and together with his wife Mary, the older 
Reverend Davis instilled in his children many core teachings of the 
scriptures, among them: love thy neighbor, pursue a life of service, 
and strive to achieve your inner potential.
  The Rev. Dr. Davis marshalled the wisdom of those core teachings to 
steer the course of his extraordinary life and career. The arc of his 
career began in the Armed Services. In 1944, the Rev. Dr. Davis was 
drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the New Guinea and Philippines 
region during World War II. In a moment of crisis, he was called by his 
country to fight back against the forces of fascism and totalitarianism 
that had pulled the world into war--and he answered that call with 
action. The State of Maryland is deeply proud of the Rev. Dr. Davis' 
service to our country, and our entire Nation is grateful for his 
commitment to defending freedom everywhere.
  After he was honorably discharged from the Army, the Rev. Dr. Davis 
entered the private sector and owned several businesses over the years, 
including a restaurant, a barber shop, a charter bus service, and an 
automotive body shop.
  The Rev. Dr. Davis has been many things: a protector of freedom 
overseas, a community leader at home, an entrepreneur, and a business 
owner. But today, the Rev. Dr. Davis is most well-known throughout 
Marylander as the founder and former senior pastor of the Inter-
Denominational Church of God. In building that community from the 
ground up, the Rev. Dr. Davis set out to grow a congregation that would 
accept all people, regardless of background and culture. His vision has 
been realized through the many dedicated parishioners of the Inter-
Denominational Church of God, who continue working together to create 
an inclusive community of worship. After 38 years of exceptional 
service, the Rev. Dr. Davis stepped down as senior pastor during the 
week of his 90th birthday. Now, his legacy lives on under new 
leadership that will sustain and build on the Rev. Dr. Davis' vision 
for years to come.
  As a result of the Rev. Dr. Davis's work in the ministry and 
community, he has received numerous recognitions and honors. But 
despite these achievements, the Rev. Dr. Davis has always stayed humble 
and remained true to those guiding principles of family and faith that 
he first learned a young boy growing up in Rockville. To the Rev. Dr. 
Davis, the greatest recognition he could ever receive is in knowing he 
is the best husband and the best father to five children, six 
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
  The Rockville community, the Maryland community, and our country are 
indebted to Rev. Dr. Davis for his faithful service. On his 100th 
birthday, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this 
extraordinary milestone and sending our deepest gratitude to the Rev. 
Dr. Phillip Webster Davis, Sr., for all he has done.

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