Greetings,

My name is Kirk A. Davis, CDR, USCG (Ret.). I am a second-generation owner and manager of Davis Memorial Cemetery (DMC), an African American Historic Cemetery established in 1956 by my uncle, Edward D. Davis, Jr., and located at 1000 Davis Place in Titusville, Florida. DMC was founded to serve our community as a place of remembrance, honor, and respect for those who came before us.

I serve on Titusville's Oakridge Cemetery Board of Trustees, Genealogical Society of North Brevard, Historical Society of North Brevard and Museum, Black Cemetery Network, City of Titusville Historic Preservation Board, and the North Brevard Chapter of the NAACP. Recipient of the 2026 Florida Trust For Historic Preservation Individual Distinguished Service Award.

Every individual has a story. While brief biographies shared at homegoing services offer a starting point, they rarely capture the full legacy of a life. Preserving and sharing family history has special significance in the Black community, particularly because African Americans were often denied access to published obituaries in the early to mid-20th century. To overcome this, families preserved memories through photographs and written tributes shared within the community. Davis Memorial Cemetery was established to ensure those legacies would be remembered and honored for generations.

My own commitment to family history began more than thirty years ago during a formative experience with the late Alex Haley, author of Roots and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I served as Mr. Haley's military escort during his participation in the United States Coast Guard Academy's 108th Commencement on May 4, 1989, where he was awarded the Academy's first Honorary Doctorate in Letters. His humility, sincerity, and deep respect for family left a lasting impression on me and inspired my ongoing work in preserving family and community history. His words— "Find the good and praise it" and "In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, a bridge to our future"—continue to guide this mission.

To further support this effort, I actively use the Find A Grave website and mobile application to help families locate loved ones, view memorials, and share tributes. I contribute available photographs and historical information for memorials within Davis Memorial Cemetery and welcome additional family history from descendants. With permission, I am happy to update memorials to reflect new information or comply with requests for transfers or removals.

Patrons are encouraged to explore these resources to preserve and share their family's legacy with current and future generations.

In addition to DMC, I encourage you to explore the Gibsonian Archive, a digital repository dedicated to preserving the history of Titusville's Black community. The archive highlights significant figures such as Andrew Jackson Gibson, a former enslaved man who settled in Titusville in 1876. The Gibson family played a vital role in improving housing for Black laborers in the early 1900s and established educational institutions that served the community through segregation and beyond. Today, the preserved Gibson Complex continues to serve the community as a cultural and educational center. Davis Memorial Cemetery remains an integral part of this shared heritage.

For questions or contributions, please contact me at [email protected] or 321-795-6305. You are invited to explore the Find A Grave memorials, share your family history, and learn more about our community's enduring legacy.

Best regards,

Kirk

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 A BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVIS MEMORIAL CEMETERY (DMC)

1880: William Henry Maxwell, a former enslaved man arrives in Titusville, FL.

1925: W. H. Maxwell was successful in the citrus industry & acquired DMC property

1952: Edward D. Davis, Jr., inherited properties from W. H. Maxwell.

1956: Edward D. Davis, Jr., dedicated over 3 acres as DMC for the black community.

1968: City resolution established and named right of way, Davis Place.

1969: Davis Cemetery renamed Davis Memorial Cemetery

1969-1987: Charles G. Davis managed DMC until his passing.

1987-2012: Rita M. Davis managed DMC until her passing.

2012-Present: Kirk A. Davis began tenure as DMC general manager.

2018: Netflix's "Last Chance U" featured THS athlete's homage to a fallen teammate

2019: Held first community flag ceremony for deceased veterans.

2022: DMC added to historic Florida Master Site File, BR04482

2022: Held first "Wreaths Across America" ceremony

2023: Member, Black Cemetery Network (BCN) 06/12/23

IMPORTANT CONTENT

**DMC GPS INFO**

Enter this address: Davis Memorial Cemetery or

1000 Davis Place Titusville, FL 32796

**DMC WEBSITE** Locate legacy memorials to loved ones here.

http://www.davismemorialcemetery.com

**BLACK CEMETERY NETWORK (BCN)**

https://blackcemeterynetwork.org/

The Black Cemetery Network [BCN] was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, places, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration. The BCN Inaugural Conference was held on May 21-22, 2026. Copy and paste this link to your browser for info, https://youtube.com/shorts/FqeUFlEaq_0 si=neEWU9_TSBy4A5Ut

**DAVIS FAMILY MILITARY VETS**

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLW6BiDOUDJ-yQQiVGRd9WzEghPPK4O0/view?usp=sharing

**GIBSONIAN ARCHIVE**

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VxJ8CDfgQOqgKw3I373VLc5_6EDQubm_?usp=sharing

Titusville's compendium of local black history, historical insights and historical highlights.

**BLACK PIONEERS OF TITUSVILLE**

http://titusville150.blogspot.com

The local community is encouraged to see the legacy memorials dedicated to the Black Pioneers of Titusville.

**JOYNERVILLE HISTORICAL SPOTLIGHT**

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p4hndRZed4BF0MQm9250Crrc5OxkcVo8/view?usp=drivesdk

**BE INSPIRED**

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1796/alex-haley. The legacy memorial of ALEX HALEY, the author of 'ROOTS' and 'THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X'.