Darrel T. Davis: A Life of Accomplishments Cut Short

Darrell Taylor Davis, 58, passed away December 27th, 2024, at his Kansas City home. He is survived by his father, Mr. Audrey Taylor Davis; his brother Mr. Nimrod Shabazz, and his six children: Ms. Taylor Davis, Mr. Dante Davis, Ms. Maya Love, Ms. Tamar Davis, Ms. Mirella Davis, and Ms. Katherine Davis. Darrel was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Flossie Jean Davis, and his brother, Victor Crawford.

Darrel was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother, who had grown up as a sharecropper, and his father, who had grown up as a farmer, through hard work and dedication had become teachers and emphasized the expectation of academic excellence from the onset of his life. Darrel responded accordingly and his genius was recognized early. He was permitted to skip the third grade. From that moment on—even though he was younger than his peers—he still almost always surpassed them in class. Along the way, Darrel’s parents kept him involved in the church. As a long-time member of Friendship Baptist Church, Darrel accepted the invitation to Christ at an early age, before the congregation had moved from its initial location on 43rd and Montgall.

Coupled with his burgeoning athleticism, in high school his accomplishments were virtually unmatched. He participated in and won numerous medals for track, basketball, and academic excellence. Yet his most exceptional feat was to come. Darrel was accepted into the Air Force Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1988. During his time, he was third in command out of 4,000 cadets and was on the All-Conference Track team, where he participated in the 110m high hurdles. He was also the recipient of an Air Force Commendation medal, a U.S. Air Force Achievement medal, and a National Defense Medal.

Darrel would also soon go back to school, receiving an M.B.A. in micro-marketing from California State University, Dominguez Hills, in May 1991. Ever the overachiever, after retiring as a captain from the Air Force in 1994 he enrolled in the University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, and received a Juris Doctorate degree in 1998, making him the first in his family to graduate from law school.

While the rest of Darrel’s life included a similar litany of achievements, perhaps his biggest impact was his philanthropy through working with community organizations, like Operation Breakthrough and Habitat for Humanity. He was a big proponent of generational wealth, particularly as it pertains to the Black community. While Darrel worked in several high-level management positions, his last employment role was as a Senior Advisor at the G.S.A.’s Agricultural Department.

Darrel didn’t want any politics or fanfare associated with his death. He was always taught to be humble and to let his accomplishments speak for themselves. He served his country because it was his right and an honor; he loved his family unconditionally because that is what a father is supposed to do.