Robert Darius Davis, a longtime resident of Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, passed away on January 19, 2026, at home with his family by his side.

Bob was born on October 15, 1931, in West Palm Beach to Letha Wilton Davis and A. Darius Davis, a founder of Winn-Dixie Stores; soon thereafter, Bob and his family moved to Tampa. In 1940, Bob moved to Jacksonville, where he attended The Bolles School, and in 1949, he graduated from Landon High School. He received his business degree from the University of Florida in 1953, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After college, Bob served in the United States Army of Occupation in Germany as a noncommissioned personnel specialist.

After completion of his military service, Bob joined Winn-Dixie Stores full time in 1955. For more than 35 years, he served Winn-Dixie in a number of capacities, including Financial Vice President and Chairman of the Board. Bob retired from Winn-Dixie in 1990 and became Chairman of DDI, Inc., a Davis family investment company.

In addition to serving on the Winn-Dixie Board of Directors, Bob also served as a director for American Heritage Life, First Union Corporation, Florida Rock Industries, and Steinmart. He was also active in local civic and cultural organizations, including board service with the Jacksonville Port Authority, WJCT Public Broadcasting, St. Luke's Hospital, the River Club, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, and the Jacksonville Community Council. He was also a volunteer and benefactor of the Mayo Clinic of Florida, where he was particularly active in the development of its hospital facility.

Bob was admired for his keen intellect, wry sense of humor, unwavering generosity and was a beloved and trusted friend to many. He will be dearly missed. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Letha Wilton Davis and A. Darius Davis; his wives, Isabelle Thomas Davis and Carole Weatherly Davis; his brother, Lee Wilton Davis; and an infant son, Scott Driscoll Davis.

Surviving family members include his beloved wife, Susan Fisher Davis; daughters Caroline Davis Fitzgerald, Jordan Ellen Davis, and Ashley Davis Quamme; stepchildren Macie Scherick (Jay), Andrew Sears (Kim), Gretchen LeMaistre, Melanie Watson (Adam), and Michelle LeMaistre; and numerous grandchildren.

Bob asked that no funeral service be held and instead expressed a wish that family and friends perform a kind deed in remembrance of him.