Clarence S. Davis, Jr., age 93, of Columbia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 30, 2023. He followed his loving wife of 71 years, Rosalyn Senseney Davis, who preceded him in death one week earlier on December 23.
Clarence, known affectionately as “C” or “Papa C,” was born in Mullins, S.C. on December 23, 1930, to the late Clarence S. Davis, Sr., and Ruth White Davis. His family moved to Florence when he was 12 years old. Clarence graduated from Florence High School in 1948, and from The Citadel in 1952. While at The Citadel, he was a company commander as well as commander of the Summerall Guards. After graduating from The Citadel, Clarence married Rosalyn, the love of his life, and joined the Air Force as a second lieutenant, serving three years as a pilot. He flew the C-119 troop carrier and was stationed at Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfort, Germany.
Clarence and Rosalyn returned home to South Carolina and moved to Charleston where he attended the Medical University of South Carolina and graduated in 1962. He completed a Diagnostic Radiology residency at Duke University and then returned home to Florence, joining Florence Radiological Associates in 1966. Clarence was a radiologist at McLeod Hospital for over 30 years. He served as president of Florence Radiological Associates for many years and established the School for Radiologic Technology at Florence-Darlington Technical College, impacting the lives of hundreds of students over the years. He also served terms as president of the Florence County Radiology Society and the South Carolina Radiology Society, and was honored as being named a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. Clarence was a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church of Florence for many years and was a past president of the Florence Kiwanis Club.
Despite all of his many accomplishments, his first love was for Rosalyn and all of his family. There was nothing more important to him than his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his entire family. He always placed other’s needs and desires before his own. He truly exemplified Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
With Rosalyn’s death, “Papa C” was ready to go home and be with her and his Lord forever and ever!
Clarence is survived by his son, Clarence S. Davis, III MD (Kathy); and daughters, Jeannie Davis Powell (Hartley), and Evie Davis Bunge (John). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Michael McDonald Davis, MD (Leah), James Greenlee Davis, Kathryn Elizabeth Davis, Caroline Rosalyn Davis, Davis Hartley Powell (Kate), Preston Correll Powell (fiancé, Sam), John Frederick Bunge, Jr. (Kaitlin), and Hannah Rosalyn Bunge, and eight great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 2:30 pm, Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Florence, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home.
The family would like to express their deepest appreciation for the loving care given to “Papa C” and “Rozzie” by Doris and Ineatha from Daybreak Adult Care Services.
Memorials may be made to the Radiologic Technology Program at Florence-Darlington Technical College.