Mr. Bryan Keith Davis Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV) God, in his infinite wisdom, love and compassion for His children, has called and received His Bryan Keith Davis, Jr. home to spend eternity with Him, Jesus and his loved ones who have gone on ahead of him in Heaven for all eternity. Bryan will spend eternity with his Heavenly “Abba” Father, Jesus, the angels rejoicing, celebrating and spending eternity in His Abba Father’s loving arms in Heaven. God assured his Mother that Bryan is “Present with Him and Safe in His Arms.” Bryan, Little Bryan or Keith as he was affectionately called by his family members, is also rejoicing with his loved ones who have preceded him in death to eternal life. Though he has family, loved ones and friends who remain here on Earth, please know that he is ‘absent from his earthly body, but present with the Lord’ and enjoying eternity “Safe in God’s loving arms.” We know this because Bryan accepted Jesus into his heart at an early age, lived a Godly lifestyle at times, repented, loved Jesus, was baptized one summer while attending Hallelujah Baptist Church during summer camp with his Great-Grandmother, Mrs. Viola Hardy, Rev. Haskins and Rev. Exum. Bryan also attended First Apostolic Faith Church with his Mother before he moved away (His Pastor was Apostle Showell) and dedicated his life to God and was Baptized in Jesus’ Name. Bryan loved Jesus and exemplified the love and compassion of Jesus while living on this Earth. Everyone who came in contact with Bryan loved him. He had a beautiful smile and personality, was friendly, compassionate and often kept to himself. If Bryan was going through something, his Mother, Granny Carolyn Alston, Grandpops Enoch Alston, Great-Grandmother Viola Hardy, Cousin Raymond Hardy and his “Pops” Keith Cooper would console him and tell him to talk to God about it; His Mother, Grandmother Carolyn & “Mothers” as he called his Great-Grandmother Viola Hardy always prayed with Bryan and for him. His Father was present in his life, up to age 5 or 6, before he joined the United States Army and travelled overseas to Germany and eventually decided to live in Germany and work in Germany after he was discharged from the Army. Bryan loved his father, Bryan Keith Davis, Sr. and forgave him for not being there during his teenage years since he lived in Germany; however, God had a plan for Bryan, who had a large host of Fathers and Mothers in his life, such as his special cousin, Raymond Hardy, who was always there for “Little Bryan” and loved him as a Big Brother and Father Figure and helped his Mother raise Bryan, along with his Granny, Mrs. Carolyn Alston & her husband, Mr. Enoch Alston, his Great-Grandmother, Mrs. Viola Hardy, who preceded her “Little Bryan” in death and took care of Bryan, and he called her “Mothers”, his Grandpa James Davis (deceased), Aunt Cassandra Hardy-Blow (deceased), his Uncle Joseph Hardy (deceased), Cousin Tiffany Merritt (deceased), Cousins Renee Hardy-Flowers, Joseph Hardy, Jr. (Junebug), Aunt Dawn and Cousin Damon Faulcon, Donald and Shawanda Faulcon, Cousin Jesse (deceased), Great-Aunt Mag (deceased), Cousins Wanda, Sheila, Vera and Deborah Coates and Lloyd Coates, Uncle James Davis, Jr., Uncle George & Joyce Davis, Cousins Marie and Michelle Davis, as well as many other cousins too numerous to mention whom he loved very much and would spend holidays and family gatherings with in Baltimore, Maryland. Bryan sometimes visited his Uncle Paul Johnson (deceased), who was his Grandmother Pauline Stokes’ twin brother, and his Uncle William Albert Stokes, Jr. (Uncle Junior) when Junior visited Bryan when Angie was not at home or sometimes with family in Littleton, NC during his travels where his Great-Grandmother, Mrs. Viola Hardy, and her siblings, were born and raised. Again, Bryan had too many cousins, relatives and friends for us to mention by name that he loved, and they loved him. Regarding Bryan’s Nana – Pauline’s and William (Billy) Stokes’ side of the family – his Nana (Pauline - deceased) and Grandfather (Billy - deceased) loved Bryan. He had a host of uncles, such as his Uncle Anthony Johnson (deceased), Uncle Darryl Stokes, and William Albert Stokes Jr. (Uncle Jr.) and Aunts Rhonda Johnson and Michelle Stokes , along with his male cousins (Javaughn and Jamal Phillips, Kenyatta“Nook” Johnson – deceased and Tiffany Johnson Hill, Marissa and Morgan Hill) as well as other cousins and relatives who loved Bryan and met throughout his lifetime. Bryan and his cousins (Javaughn and Jamal), would stay with on weekends, sometimes at his Uncle Anthony Johnson’s house on Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland and with his Cousin Marvin Johnson, Anthony’s son. His Uncle Darryl and Aunt Michelle Stokes would also keep Bryan at their house, and when Bryan and his Mother, Angie, lived a short time with his Aunt Rhonda Johnson and his cousins “Nook and Tiff”, Nook (Kenyatta Johnson), who preceded Bryan in death while he stayed with them, would often watch Bryan, while Angie was in college at Morgan State University and eventually graduated, because family cared for Bryan while she attended college in the evenings and weekends. Bryan loved studying his Mother’s college courses with her because he loved reading books with his Mother and spending time at the Morgan State University Library. His Godfather, Major M. Lee (deceased), would spend time with Bryan and take him to play and tour the college campus at Morgan State University sometimes while his Mother was in class. Bryan loved his Godfather, Lee, and appreciated “Lee” as well as Mrs. Irona Pope who would spend time keeping him while his Mother was in school. Bryan just had a loving host of family members and friends who cherished him, and his Mother really appreciated all they did to help her with Bryan so that she could graduate from college and provide a better life for herself, raising Bryan as a single Mother. Everyone who came in contact with Bryan loved him. He kept to himself at times, because he loved reading books, maps, and had the gift of writing poetry in his journals and daily journaling about his life, events and travels. He was his Mother’s ‘traveling companion’, since they, seemingly, were always riding in their car and going somewhere. Bryan was a prolific writer of life and all of his experiences, traveling almost everywhere. He would call up his Cousin Lee (“Leezy”), Tonya and Toya Williams and travel to visit Leezy in Baltimore or stay with him sometimes in Philly. As a teenager, Bryan and his Mother left Baltimore, Maryland on February 4, 2001 for a new beginning in Greenville, North Carolina and lived with his Aunt Rhonda Johnson. He attended Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church with his Aunt Rhonda and his Mother and loved Pastor Sidney Locks, who was the Pastor at the time. He attended J. H. Rose High School in the 9th Grade and needed to take the required computer class and testing that he had missed because he began the school year towards the end and he enrolled in the Junior ROTC as well as selected Hospitality as his major. He needed tutoring, since he needed to take a test that he had not prepared for and he and his Mother – Angela Marie Stokes at the time – prayed and sought God for help. Well, that “Ram in the Bush” was in the form of a wonderful man named “Keith Wayne Cooper”, whom Bryan and his Mother met at Barnes & Nobles bookstore in Greenville, NC in February 2001. Keith was Bryan’s mentor, tutor, friend and everything that Bryan needed as a male role model and father figure while transitioning to manhood. His Grandmother, Pauline Stokes (deceased), Aunt Rhonda Johnson, Aunt Michelle Stokes and Uncle Darryl Stokes, had to check Keith out to ensure that he was a suitable person to be in Bryan’s life. Keith would attend Bryan’s school events, talk with his teachers and prepared Bryan for the End-of-Course testing. Keith Wayne Cooper would meet Bryan and his Mother, along with his cousin, Jamal, at Barnes and Nobles to study and teach them on a consistent basis. Bryan eventually encouraged Keith Cooper, who fell in love with his Mother, Angela Marie Stokes, to ask his Mother out for dinner and set them up on a real date that Bryan had planned because he loved Keith and knew that someday Keith would be a wonderful, loving husband to his Mother and Father to him (Bryan called Keith his “Pops” and referred to him as his “Dad.”) Bryan felt relieved that he could graduate from J.H. Rose High School in 2004 and leave Greenville, North Carolina for Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 17 years old and start his new life as a responsible young adult on a full scholarship in college, now that he was confident that his Mother was okay with Keith Cooper and that family members and his Nana, Pauline, would look out for his Mother everyday. His Mother knew that Bryan would not leave Greenville, NC unless he knew that his Mother was okay because he always felt like he needed to look out for and take care of his Mother because his Mother, Angie, a single parent, had raised him. He trusted Keith to love and be there for his Mother Angie always. Keith and Angie eventually married on September 9, 2009. Bryan gave his Mother away at the wedding and was Keith’s best man. Bryan always called his Mother everyday to check on her and to tell her that he loved her and assured her that, if she needed anything, he would bring it to her in person or mail it to her. His Mother would always reply that she loved him too, that God loved him, and she would pray with him over the phone. Indeed, they would pray together as a family unit. Bryan also called “Mothers” and his Granny, Mrs. Carolyn, in Baltimore, MD everyday in Baltimore, Maryland to check on them and tell them that he loved them very much and talk with them and his Cousin Raymond Hardy about his day. When Bryan graduated from high school, his Cousin Raymond Hardy, his Granny and Great-Granny, Viola, travelled to Greenville, NC to attend his graduation as well as his cousins Lee (“Leezy”), Tonya and Toya Williams (this is his Grandfather William “Billy” Stokes’ sister’s Leola Williams Moody’s youngest son) during Memorial Day weekend. They all loved Bryan and spent time celebrating Bryan for graduating from high school and receiving a full scholarship to college. Bryan Keith Davis, Jr. was born on September 1, 1986 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) in Towson, Maryland at 8:28 PM to Angela Marie Stokes (Davis) and Bryan Keith Davis. He was called home to spend eternity in Heaven on May 4, 2020 at 11 AM. Bryan received his early education in Baltimore, Maryland at Yorkwood Elementary until he moved to Highlandtown with his Mother and attended and graduated from Highlandtown Elementary School. His Mother home-schooled him until he was enrolled at Greater Grace Christian Academy Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland where he completed and graduated from Middle School. Bryan moved to Greenville, NC with his Mother on February 4, 2001 for a new beginning and new life. Bryan, he attended Junius H. Rose High School in the 9th grade. “Keith,” as he was affectionately called by his Granny, Carolyn Alston, his Grandfather, James Davis, who preceded him in death, excelled in school and was involved in the ROTC in the 9th grade and had two best friends throughout high school until his death and they were: Donald “Rayon” Harrison and Corey Acklin, Bryan was Rayon’s son, Mehki Harrison’s god-father. In terms of how Bryan met his father, Keith Wayne Cooper, who loved and raised him as his son from a teenager to adulthood, while in the 9th grade, Bryan needed a tutor and he and his Mother met Keith W. Cooper at Barnes and Nobles to arrange tutoring lessons. When Bryan met Keith Cooper, he realized that Keith was a wonderful man who tutored and mentored Bryan and one that he could trust to love and appreciate his Mother so he encouraged Keith to pursue a friendship with his Mother which eventually led to marriage years later on September 09, 2009 and Bryan started calling Keith W. Cooper his “Pops” as he loved and recognized him as his father. At age 17 years old, Bryan graduated from J. H. Rose High School with a full scholarship to Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC and fell in love with the city of Charlotte, NC. Bryan attended Johnson & Wales for 2 years of college and had to stop for health reasons and began working as a Night Auditor at the Holiday Inn Express hotels in Charlotte and surrounding areas. He later enrolled in classes at the “Language Academy of the Carolinas, Inc. in which he was studying conversational Spanish and he was fluent in Spanish and somewhat fluent in French as his goal was to travel abroad and teach abroad. His friends at college and school in Charlotte, NC referred to Bryan as “Journal Wright” as he indicated to his parents that he loved to journal and write poems all the time. God had gifted Bryan the gift of writing and he used that gift to express his love and compassion by writing beautiful poems to his family members as gifts during the holidays and placing the poems in a frame. Bryan was very caring, compassionate and knew how to touch his loved one’s heart with beautiful words in a frame. Bryan’s special love was for his grandmothers Carolyn Alston and Pauline Stokes who preceded Bryan in death. He loved his grandfather, Enoch Alston, who he called Grandpops, and his other Grandfather, James Davis, whom he affectionately called “Grandpa,” and Bryan would often stay at his Grandfather’s James brother George Davis’ house with his Great-Uncle George Davis, Aunt Joyce Davis and their daughters (Marie and Michelle) for Sunday dinners and family time weekly while living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bryan loved his Uncle George and Aunt Joyce Davis, and his cousins, Marie and Michelle Davis. Bryan’s Grandpa James Davis (deceased) would call him everyday to check up on him while he was alive and called his Uncle George for updates on how Bryan was doing everyday as well. Bryan also loved his Grandfather Williams “Billy” Stokes (deceased), who did not remember Bryan, due to being diagnosed and passed away with Alzheimer’s disease. He really loved his Grandpops Enoch Alston who have always been there for him and it was his Grandpops Enoch Alston who took Angie to GMBC hospital on Labor Day evening of September 1, 1986 to give birth to Bryan at 8:28 PM and has always been a part of Bryan’s life until his passing. Afterwards, Bryan left Johnson & Wales, due to an injury to his shoulder, and needed to rest and get well from attending school and working overnight full-time as a Night Auditor at the Holiday Inn Express hotels in Charlotte and Huntersville and the Marriott in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Bryan completed two years of college at Johnson & Wales University and returned back to Charlotte, NC before returning to Baltimore, Maryland to live with his Grandma Carolyn, Great-Grandmother Viola Hardy and his Aunt Cassandra “San” Hardy-Blow (deceased). His favorite Cousin Tiffany Merritt (deceased) was a wonderful role model for Bryan and he always talked about her to his Aunt San, Granny and Cousin Raymond. Wherever Bryan lived, he worked and was an avid traveler. He loved riding trains and visiting all parts of America and had his passport in his wallet to travel overseas and to Canada every year on his birthday. He would call his Granny and Mother, who saw him one day and talked with him the next day on the phone and tell them that he was in another State or Country “enjoying the sites and having fun.” Bryan would also call his favorite Cousin Raymond to ask that he take care of his Granny and “Mothers” while he was away and would return home after he finished travelling or was in Philly with his Cousin Leezy. Years later, Bryan missed living in North Carolina and wanted to leave Baltimore, Maryland and return to his life in Charlotte, North Carolina and Johnson & Wales University; however, Bryan started working and traveling and was unable to return to college, and he eventually moved to Kannapolis, North Carolina at the Ridges Apartments where he loved to live and passed away in his sleep on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 9 AM when he was found asleep, lying on his left side on his bed by the Kannapolis, NC police. He had spent the Friday afternoon before passing from life to eternal life with his friend, Mr. Olin Thompson, his Mechanic and Mentor. Olin checked on Bryan regularly and would call his Mother Angie to update her on Bryan and was at Bryan’s apartment to check on him because he had not heard from Bryan and was to meet up with Bryan that morning in Huntersville, NC. When Olin stopped by to check on Bryan, he was informed that Bryan had passed away while asleep and called Bryan’s Mother and Grandmother to inform them. Olin was a real friend to Bryan as well as his friends from his Spanish Group, His Uncle George, Aunt Joyce and Cousins Marie and Michelle Davis. He also had friends with whom he met up weekly for Conversation Spanish and his friend, Eric Williams and Shaneka Rickenbacker, who was his friend and roommate when he had returned to live in Charlotte, NC. They all have been best friends while he lived there and met up regularly. Bryan was also a “Stand Up Comedian” and would attend “Mike Night,” and his friends and Mother and Pops would attend “Comedy Night” where Bryan would be on stage telling “clean jokes and comedy” and he would receive accolades from the crowd. He also participated in Poetry Groups and “Open Mike” Poetry. He always invited his friends. His Mother and Pops would watch Bryan recite poetry that he had just written that day in preparation for event. The Atrium Health Care Medical Examiner Coroner pronounced Bryan’s death at 11 AM when she examined him and determined that he did not have the Corona virus and died in his sleep. She called to tell his Mother that, although his Mother was not allowed to see Bryan due to COVID-19 Restrictions that Bryan’s face was peaceful, and he looked like he was asleep. When his parents cleaned out his apartment and sat on Bryan’s bed where he passed away, his bedroom was so peaceful. God had given his parents (Angie and Keith) and Granny Carolyn peace. The Lord had spoken to his Mother and assured her that Bryan was “Safe in His Arms” and present with him, and the Lord gave her the scripture, “To be Absent From the Body Is To Be Present With The Lord.” So his Mother, Angela Stokes Cooper, is at peace knowing that Bryan is “Safe in the Arms of His Loving “Abba Father” and spending all eternity with Him. Who could ask for anything more than Eternal Life in Heaven with their Heavenly Father who loved and created them? Please continue to pray for Bryan’s family. Though we loved Bryan, God loved him best, and Bryan passed from this life to Eternal Life to be with the Best. Notwithstanding the fact that Bryan had gone through tests and trials in his life, God found Bryan faithful and took him home to spend eternity with him at 33 years of age. Bryan’s Mother Angela Stokes Cooper, “Pops” Keith W. Cooper, Grandparents Carolyn and Enoch Alston, Raymond Hardy (who Bryan loved very much), Aunt Rhonda Johnson, Aunt Michelle Stokes, Uncle Darryl Stokes, Cousins Javaughn & Jamal Phillips, Uncle William Albert Stokes, Jr. (Uncle Junior), Cousins Tiffany, Morgan and Marissa Hill, Aunt Dawn Faulcon and Cousin Damon, Renee Hardy-Flowers, Ashley & Jasmine, Joseph Hardy Jr. (Junebug), Aunt Mag (deceased), Cousins Wanda, Sheila, Vera, Dwayne, Cousins Deborah and Lloyd Coates, Donald and Shawanda Faulcon, Buster, Kelly and Kayla Faulcon, Uncle James Davis, Jr, Cousin Jesse (deceased), Cousins Lee (Leezy), Tonya and Toya Williams, as well as other relatives and friends too numerous to name but special to us that know that Bryan is with his Heavenly Father, who loves him very much, and he is “Safe in His loving Arms” for all eternity, with family and friends, who preceded him in life eternal where Bryan and his family would like nothing more than for everyone that loved Bryan to accept and receive Jesus Christ into their hearts and believe in Him so that they can spend Eternal Life and all Eternity with God, Jesus and the angels in Heaven, who will rejoice with them as they accept and live for Jesus and love Him. For you too will live in Eternity and have days of “Heaven on Earth,” knowing that they will pass from this life to Eternal Life. Bryan did what God created him to do, and that was to love the Lord his God, have compassion on others and bless those with the Love of God, and through his writings, to encourage and bless everyone he came in contact with.

Tributes

Mr. Bryan Keith Davis Jr.

September 1, 1986 - May 4, 2020