Obituary for Jackson Davis
Jackson Davis, 82, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at Slate Valley
Center in Granville, NY. Born on September 20, 1939, in Albany, New York, he was the son of
the late Dr. Harold Jackson and Mary Lissfelt Davis. Jackson lived most of his life in Nassau,
NY, and other parts of the Capital Region, but spent significant parts of his childhood in
Montevideo, Uruguay, and Doylestown, PA, where he graduated from Central Bucks High
School in 1957. Jackson first attended Swarthmore College and then earned a BA in Science
Education in 1964 and a Master of Library Science in 1970 from the State University of New
York at Albany. After graduating, he worked as a bibliographer at the National Science
Foundation Institute for Science Teachers and the SUNY Albany Atmospheric Sciences
Research Center. Jackson went on to hold numerous administrative and research jobs over the
years, and concluded his professional career by working for the NYS Department of Motor
Vehicles in Albany, from which he retired.
As a lifelong student of philosophy, history, and culture, as well as a bibliophile, Jackson was
passionate about the life of the mind and could often be found reading works on diverse topics
(in English and Spanish), indexing and cross-referencing research, and constructing
bibliographies. He also loved music, particularly classic jazz. Jackson was at the forefront of
the emerging environmental movement in the early 1970s, and remained an environmental
advocate and activist throughout his life. He was most recently dedicated to pursuing bold new
solutions to address global climate change. He loved his children and grandchildren deeply and
imagined a better world for them and for future generations, where all human beings would give
our home–the Earth–the care, respect, and love she is due.
In addition to his parents, Jackson was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Ann (Lockwood)
Melvin Davis and his sister-in-law, Pamela Lockwood.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Maryellen Davis Collett; his sons,
Andrew Jackson Davis and Thomas (Kristina) Waterbury Beal; his step-daughter, Martha (JD)
Brown; his granddaughters Maya and Maura Jane Collett (along with their father, Keith E.
Collett II); his granddaughter Mikayla Sweet; his granddaughter Eva Beal; his sister, Marianne
Hegeman; his sister-in-law, Elaine Melvin; and his cousin, Ed Crutchfield.
Burial and services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Please consider
honoring Jackson’s memory by donating your time and/or money to urgent environmental
causes in your local community.
Arrangements are in the care of M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main Street, Argyle, NY 12809.
Center in Granville, NY. Born on September 20, 1939, in Albany, New York, he was the son of
the late Dr. Harold Jackson and Mary Lissfelt Davis. Jackson lived most of his life in Nassau,
NY, and other parts of the Capital Region, but spent significant parts of his childhood in
Montevideo, Uruguay, and Doylestown, PA, where he graduated from Central Bucks High
School in 1957. Jackson first attended Swarthmore College and then earned a BA in Science
Education in 1964 and a Master of Library Science in 1970 from the State University of New
York at Albany. After graduating, he worked as a bibliographer at the National Science
Foundation Institute for Science Teachers and the SUNY Albany Atmospheric Sciences
Research Center. Jackson went on to hold numerous administrative and research jobs over the
years, and concluded his professional career by working for the NYS Department of Motor
Vehicles in Albany, from which he retired.
As a lifelong student of philosophy, history, and culture, as well as a bibliophile, Jackson was
passionate about the life of the mind and could often be found reading works on diverse topics
(in English and Spanish), indexing and cross-referencing research, and constructing
bibliographies. He also loved music, particularly classic jazz. Jackson was at the forefront of
the emerging environmental movement in the early 1970s, and remained an environmental
advocate and activist throughout his life. He was most recently dedicated to pursuing bold new
solutions to address global climate change. He loved his children and grandchildren deeply and
imagined a better world for them and for future generations, where all human beings would give
our home–the Earth–the care, respect, and love she is due.
In addition to his parents, Jackson was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Ann (Lockwood)
Melvin Davis and his sister-in-law, Pamela Lockwood.
Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Maryellen Davis Collett; his sons,
Andrew Jackson Davis and Thomas (Kristina) Waterbury Beal; his step-daughter, Martha (JD)
Brown; his granddaughters Maya and Maura Jane Collett (along with their father, Keith E.
Collett II); his granddaughter Mikayla Sweet; his granddaughter Eva Beal; his sister, Marianne
Hegeman; his sister-in-law, Elaine Melvin; and his cousin, Ed Crutchfield.
Burial and services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Please consider
honoring Jackson’s memory by donating your time and/or money to urgent environmental
causes in your local community.
Arrangements are in the care of M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main Street, Argyle, NY 12809.