Donald W. Davis was born to Adina and Henry Davis, on 6 March 1916 in Panama where his father a native of Antigua had gone to work on the Panama Canal. His parents came to the Bahamas when Donald was a little boy and resided in Mason's Addition. His father did construction work. The family became well respected in the community. He married Delores Cooper in 1949. This union resulted in 12 children, Davina, Donella, Donald, Donette, D'Andrea, Darlene, Denise, Darren, Domonic, Dymphana, Diego and Daria.

He died on 4 June 1971 as results of injuries sustained in a car accident in January of the same year.

Donald Davis attended the Government High School and after completing his education he applied for and was accepted as a teacher on the staff of the Board of Education. After a period of practical training under Mr. T. A. Thompson, then Inspector of Schools, he began his teaching career with little formal training and displayed and amazing capacity for organization, discipline and motivating even `hopeless' students. As a result he was promoted rapidly.

His first post took him to the Western Senior School in 1934 as an Assistant Teacher. Later he was transferred to Eastern Senior School. His first Headmastership came in 1937 when he was appointed to the Wesley Branch School where he did and excellent job with backward children. In 1939 however he was again transferred to the Eastern Senior School.

It was at Eastern Senior School that he did most of his work. He became Acting Headmaster in 1940 and was confirmed in the post in 1942. He was one of the foremost educators in the country for a long time and went beyond the call of duty. He introduced Parent/Teachers Day, Achievement Day, The Green and Yellow Magazine and the `school uniform.'
 
 
   
       
           
   
 

During the war years, he with the aid of his teachers and the Eastern District community contributed much toward the efforts of the war committees.

Academically the Eastern Senior School was unsurpassed under his leadership and unstinting efforts. He was very instrumental in getting the Cambridge Junior and Senior Exams introduced to Government Schools. At that time many children could not afford to go to Government High School which cost œ10.10.0 or 10 guineas where only a quota of about 20 new students was accepted each year. One of the only other private schools at this time was Queen's College which was even more selective and expensive. In those days to get a certificate one had to pass both English and Mathematics or repeat. In order to assist students, Mr. Davis started an evening institute as a voluntary measure (the garage of his Mason's Addition home was converted into this institute) where students were obligated to attend classes. Many teachers and other government employees owe their present status in government to his efforts (Frank Bartlett, Livingstone Coakley, Richard Demeritte, late Doris Johnson, Basil Sands to name a few). Under his guidance Norman Gay was the youngest person on the island, to matriculate.

In 1949, Mr. Davis was awarded a two year scholarship for further training in Edinburgh, Scotland. During his absence he left his evening institute in the hand of Livingstone Coakley. (The evening institute was designed to help older scholars and younger teachers to pass Cambridge Junior and Senior Examinations. These examinations formed the standard of education required for the teachers and civil servants in the Bahamas).

Even today many people reminisce about D. W. Davis being a leading disciplinarian. He did not hesitate to use the cane. He was affectionately referred to as the `Godfather of Education.'

D. W. Davis was honoured when the Eastern Senior School was named after him.