September 26, 2022, 96, Goldsboro –

Landis Hornsby Davis, 96, of the Faro Community, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022. Joining Frances Yelverton Davis, his wife, and the mother of his children, the two are now reunited in Heaven. Landis was born on Davis Mill Road to the late Weaver and Pearl Davis on September 12, 1926. Married to Frances on December 22, 1949, they together raised three wonderful children on their family farm: Wanda, Warren, and Dale.

Raised in the Eureka Community, Landis attended Eureka School and went on to State College. He never forgot his days at State College, maintaining an avid interest in their sports for the rest of his life. Faithfully serving his country in the United States Army, he was proud of the nation in which we live and fought to protect her freedoms. Working in agriculture for over 70 years, he was an active member of his community through 2018 when he was no longer able to participate.

Spending his life in Faro, Landis looked forward to passing along stories of days gone by to any who would listen. From the story about the bear in the garden to the cold days of hog killing, he retold each memory with vivid detail. Perhaps one of his greatest stories was that of the bomb that was dropped in Faro. Set in the ways of his youth, he held a deep love for country ham and fish stew, and an equal animosity for cell phones. If you wanted to talk to him, a landline was fine; a personal visit was better, but don’t expect him to use a cell phone!

Possessing a servant’s heart, Landis was a true leader, serving as a charter member of the Faro Volunteer Fire Department, a charter member and past president of the Eureka Ruritan Club, and also serving nearly 40 years as their treasurer. He loved the competition of selling barbecue tickets and calendars for the Eureka Ruritan Club.

Serving for 10 years as the chairman of the Belfast-Patetown Sanitary District Board of Directors, Landis dedicated more than 20 years as a board member. He additionally served as a board member and past chairman of the Board of Directors at Heritage Bank. A member of the Wayne County and North Carolina Farm Bureau, he served as chairman of the Wayne County Farm Bureau.

Landis was the chairman of the administrative board at Yelverton United Methodist Church. He was a member of the North Carolina Tobacco Growers Association, Tobacco Commodity Committee, ASCS Community Committee, and Wayne County Extension Advisory Board from 1968 – 1971. Recognized as Ruritan of the Year in 1968 and 1991, he also received the Community Service Award from the Eureka Ruritan Club in 1972 and an Honorary State FFA Degree in 1986. In 2003, he was inducted into the Wayne County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Landis took much pride in his family’s ownership and stewardship of the land on which they lived. For over two hundred years, they worked on the land and constantly strived to improve practices to make the land more fertile and thus more valuable for the next generation. Even into his later years, he continued to show the love of the land through his work in his garden, sharing the bounty with many as he delivered to friends and family alike.

Landis will lie in state on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home with the family present from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. A service to celebrate Landis’ life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022, in the chapel of Seymour Funeral Home. The interment will be in Wayne Memorial Park.

Landis was preceded in death by his wife and the mother of his children, Frances Yelverton Davis, his son, Warren Davis; his wife, Janet Davis; his sisters, Daphne Davis and husband, George and Jewitt Thompson; and his companion and protector, Zeus, an English Mastiff.

Landis is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Wanda and Banks Cozart of Greenville; son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Kriquette Davis; brother-in-law, Ed Thompson; three grandchildren, Evan Davis (Miranda), Kevin Cozart (Lauren) and Emily Dowd (Drew); four great-grandchildren, Chase Cozart, Luke Cozart, and Amelia Dowd; step great-granddaughter, Madisyn Todd; and a grand dog, Margeaux Rita Davis. He is also survived by his special friend and companion, Linda Stroud; and several nieces and nephews he loved very much. Janet’s children also survive Landis: daughter, Linda Cherry; son and daughter-in-law, Donnie and Koni Price and their children, Ben and Jamie.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Country Day and Community Hospice for their love and care for Landis. We are grateful that they showed him compassion and love on a daily basis.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.

Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.