Vivian Ray Davis was born in Oakwood, Texas, to the parents of Roxie and Ellis Davis. He accepted Christ at an early age at Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Arlington Park, and in 1998 joined Friendship-West Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Frederick D. Haynes. He received his formal education in Dallas, where he attended K.B. Polk and Booker T. Washington High School, where he was on the National Honor Society. He attended Michigan State University where he received his B.A. degree in Sociology in 1965 and his M.A. degree in Personnel Administration in 1967. He received his J.D. degree from Texas Southern University in 1970. While attending Michigan State he worked as a pre- employment counselor at a high school in Lansing. From 1965 to 1967, he was working full-time and completed his Master's degree requirements at Michigan State. His area of concentration was Personnel Administration. He received his Law Degree (J.D.) in 1970 and was employed by the Houston Area Urban League as staff consultant. He was a member of the Texas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Michigan Education Association, the American Personnel and Guidance Association, the Texas University Alumni Association, and the National Business League. He was a member of the Southwest Athletic Club, Lions Club, and Smithsonian Institution. He received the American Jurisprudence Award for excellent achievement in the study of marital rights 1979. He was listed in the Who's Who in Finance and Industry and was a member of the National Association of Minority Contractors. He practiced law in the Houston Area until 1988 and later moved to Dallas to practice law until his retirement. He was a loving and caring person who loved working in his yard and kept it well manicured. He loved baking cakes, sometimes adding pecans picked from his yard. He was single and is survived by his sister, Lula Moss; three brothers, Edward Davis, Ellis Davis and Stoyan Lanier Sephus; two aunts, Louise Richards and Marie Mott; two uncles, Athen and Luther Cunningham; a dear cousin, Brenda Bright; three special friends, Barbara Statton, Brenda Curry and Gloria Joe; and host of other relatives and friends.