James Oscar Davis

On Wednesday, June 18, in the year 2014, JaMeS oScar DaviS (Peck) was called from labor to reward. James, the son of Robert and Sarah Cottman was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 27, 1937. James was a product of the Baltimore City Public School System. He enjoyed his early years, being one of two children. If you wanted to know how a brother should treat his sister, (Mary who preceded him in death); Peck could have written a manual on good brother and sister relationships. He met and later married June Graves and from this union two girls were born, Tina and Kim. Two girls he loved dearly. This love was extended to his love of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Peck worked at several jobs in and around the city of Baltimore, with most of his time in employment working at a pharmacy located at Charles and 25th Streets in Baltimore City. Anyone who knew Peck could clearly see that his life was consumed with his love of sports. He played, watched or talked sports everyday of his youth and adult life. This love started when he played as a kid, on the athletic field located at school number 122 located on W. Preston Street in the city. He later played flag football with the Baltimore Starlings, they were the firstblack football team to win the Baltimore City championship in 1960. They also won in 1958 and 1959, but had their championships taken away because of "supposed" technicalities. He also played with the Mets, a basketball team that played in several unlimited basketball leagues around the city. His most memorable years of playing would probably be his years playing at Cloverdale, where he once played on a B-Morton team where he played alongside the NBA Pro, Gus Johnson. His life ended with him watching, teaching and mentoring younger men who he associated with at such venues as Cloverdale, John Eager Howard, Beachfield and Carver. As long as his health permitted him, he would drive himself to those venues and when he had to give up driving he would not let himself be denied. Not wanting to be a burden, he used Mobility to get himself to his sports buddies. He would not let his older buddies rehash old tales without him. His love of his sports buddies was not a one way relationship, they loved Peck and if he had a need, whatever it was, they would supply it. He also received from them awards for being most valuable fan in their league play. James Davis along with Bill Harris, Boysie Hux, Leonard Covington and Dennis Talbot started the Cloverdale experience. From a beginning of just looking for a game, grew summer league play and eventually into "The City Game" and a philosophy of the Cloverdale/BBA to "Teach Every Man's Child".

Tributes

James Oscar Davis

March 27, 1937 - June 18, 2014