Jeffery Davis

Jeffery Xavier “Beam” Davis, of Bethesda, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, September 27, at Suburban Hospital due to heart failure following pneumonia and sepsis. He was 53.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jeffery was lovingly raised by his maternal great-grandparents, Semion Floyd Davis and Mary Legeria Kling Davis. An exceptional student, he was enrolled in the Gifted and Talented program at Istrouma Middle Magnet School where he was a proud member of the boys’ choir. Remarkably, he entered college directly after eighth grade, attending Louisiana State University before transferring and earning an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from Delta Community College at the age of 16.

Jeffery’s passion for computers and electronics began early in life. In 1988 when he was 15, he started the non-profit, public access, dial-up Bulletin Board System, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe BBS, where he would become known for his zany sense of humor and later meet his future wife Elizabeth. Also during this period, he began to apply his love of storytelling and strategy as a gamemaster, creating and running role-playing games for many years. He would share his love of gaming with Elizabeth and their daughter Kathryn.

Over the course of a technology career that spanned decades, Jeffery would pursue a number of certifications in system administration and computer programming. His curiosity, enthusiasm, and aptitude for computer science would earn him positions at companies like NASA, eBay, Shutterfly, 8×8, Transmeta, and IBM in the San Jose/San Francisco area. For the last eight years, he served as a Senior Systems and Storage Administrator consultant at the National Institutes of Health.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Skola Davis and daughter Kathryn Marie Davis of Bethesda, Maryland; biological siblings Phillip Gerald Harter and wife Stacey of Centerton, AR., Sharon Pratt of Missouri, Nikcole Pratt of Great Falls, Montana, Kimberly Pratt of Bolivar, Missouri, and Jason Pratt of Bowling Green, Missouri; adopted siblings Dan Terry Paul Dier and wife Julie of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Theresa Gail Gasquet (godmother) of Plaquemine, Louisiana; cousins Keith Semion Davis and wife Beth of Plaquemine, Louisiana, Angela Marie Frasca of Plaquemine, Louisiana, and Jill Leann Dier of Denham Springs, Louisiana; uncles Semion Floyd Davis, Jr and wife Liz and Charles Jean Davis (godfather) of Plaquemine, Louisiana.

He was preceded in death by the maternal great-grandparents who raised him, Semion Floyd Davis, Sr. and Mary Legeria Kling Davis, adoptive mother Shirley Ann Davis Dier Gasquet, and his biological parents Phillip Gerald Pratt, Sr. and Dolores Ann Dier Babin Pratt.

Photos of Jeffery we would like to share are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/w2wd7GMvmQbx8Zp9A

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 24, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, Louisiana, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Prairieville Cemetery. A reception will be held at the St. John Activity Center in Prairieville after the burial.