McMinnville resident and Cannon County native John Rayford Davis, 89, was born March 3, 1923 and died April 2 at Tennessee State Veterans Home in Murfreesboro following an extended illness. A retired editor for the Southern Standard, a United States Army veteran of World War II, past Commander of VFW Post 5064 and publisher of the VFW State Newsletter, and a member of Central Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Shelah and Lemona Mitchell Davis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by stepmother, Agnes Orrick Davis; and three stepbrothers, Leon, Joe and Willard Orrick.He was married Nov. 24, 1949 to Hannah Greene Davis of McMinnville.