Barry Franklin Davis, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away peacefully at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on January 2, 2021. He was 78 years of age. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and beloved friend to many.

He was born in New York City on October 13, 1942. He moved, as a young boy, with his parents to Miami, Florida, where he grew up. He joined the Boys Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle. He attended Miami Jackson High School where he participated in marching band for four years and graduated in 1960. He enrolled at Florida State University where he was a member of the Marching Chiefs, playing baritone saxophone, for four years.

Upon graduation from FSU with a BS in mathematics, Barry enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served a tour in Germany where he was privileged to explore Europe on his off days.

Barry was married to Linda Carole Greene, of Ocala, Florida, on March 25, 1967. They had met at FSU when Barry was on leave and visiting mutual friends. Barry’s subsequent Air Force assignments included Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama; Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California; Shaw AFB in Sumter, SC; Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, NC (to assist the Army in training Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne soldiers to jump out of airplanes); Viet Nam as an Electronic Warfare Officer; and then back to Mather as an instructor in Electronic Warfare where he finished his active duty service. He remained in the Air Force Reserves and was assigned to Duke Field near Eglin Air Force Base where he reported for duty two weekends each month until he retired in 1989.

The family, now including two daughters, moved from Sacramento to Tallahassee in 1975 where Barry again enrolled at FSU. After earning his Master’s Degree in Accounting, Barry began his second career in public service with the Florida Public Service Commission. During his tenure there, he earned his Certified Public Accountant license and he worked in various roles in utility rate regulation. Barry retired from the Commission in December of 2004 after twenty-five years of service.

Upon returning to Tallahassee and enrolling at FSU for the second time, Barry promptly joined the FSU Marching Band Alumni Association. He was soon once again marching at Homecoming with the alumni band of his beloved alma mater and eventually became Executive Director of the Band Alumni Association. Barry also auditioned for and was accepted into the Tallahassee Winds. He also joined the Thursday Night Music Club, the Capitol City Band of Tallahassee Community College, and the TCC Jazz Band.

Not one to miss an opportunity to perform, he also played with the official FSU pep band called the Seminole Sound, mostly at women’s basketball games. He loved all things garnet and gold and for many years had season tickets to FSU football and baseball games. A few years ago his family presented him with one of his most treasured gifts -- a brick bearing his name and class year which was installed at the Westcott fountain.

Barry was the definition of an involved parent. He took the girls to their piano lessons, choir practice, and when they became band members at school he became the essential band parent. He never missed a high school football game, a concert, a band competition, or a parade. He also learned how to drive a truck pulling a horse trailer with a couple of horses inside it to his daughters’ riding competitions. He served as jump judge at many cross-country events. He learned how to disassemble a jump obstacle, take it across the show ring, and reassemble it as a totally different jump. Another “horse father” advised him to “just do what the women tell you to do,” and he dutifully obeyed.

In addition to the several musical groups mentioned above, Barry was a member of the Reserve Officers Association and Fellowship Presbyterian Church where he often served as usher and counted the offering after worship services. He especially appreciated the excellent music presentations at our church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin Burr Davis, and his mother, Alexandrena “Rena” Agnes Bisset. He is survived by his wife Linda Greene Davis, his daughters Stephanie Jean Davis (Tom Ressler), Penelope Jane Davis (Dale Buys), three grandchildren: Jacob Ressler, Megan Ressler, Jayden Buys, two step-grandchildren: Jonathan Buys and Justin Buys (Lauren), cousins Peggy Mallette, Jim DeLaney, Ed Delaney, Robert DeLaney, Dick DeLaney, and Jack Aitken.

A private funeral service for family will be held on January 22nd at 10:00 a.m. at Fellowship Presbyterian Church, 3158 Shamrock Street South. The service will be livestreamedhttps://www.facebook.com/fellowshippcusaandhttps://www.fellowshippc.org/sermons.html. The funeral service will be available for later viewing on the church’s Facebook page. A military service will be held at 12:00 noon on the same day at the Tallahassee National Cemetery located at 5015 Apalachee Parkway. This service will also be livestreamed and recorded by Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home on their Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Barry’s name to Fellowship Presbyterian Church or the Florida State University Musical Associates.