United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) joins the community honoring the life and legacy of J. Mason Davis, a pioneering civil rights attorney, civic leader and lifelong champion for service and opportunity, who passed away at the age of 90.
He also made history as the first African American Chairman of the Board for United Way of Central Alabama, serving from 2002 to 2003.
Service shaped Mr. Davis’s life from an early age. As a student at Tuggle Elementary School, he participated in a United Way “pennies campaign,” an experience that introduced him to the power of collective generosity and community responsibility.
Decades later, that same spirit of service defined both his professional career and his leadership across Alabama.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Mr. Davis attended Talladega College before earning his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
He returned home in 1959 determined to build a legal practice grounded not only in professional excellence but also in justice and equity.
At a time when opportunities for African American attorneys were limited, Mr. Davis became a respected civil rights advocate. He represented students arrested during the Huntsville lunch counter sit-ins, helping advance desegregation efforts across Alabama.
Over the course of a long and distinguished legal career, Mr. Davis earned national recognition. This includes honors from The Best Lawyers in America, Mid-South Super Lawyers, the Birmingham Bar Foundation’s Journey for Justice and the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award in Human and Civil Rights. He later practiced at Dentons Sirote, where he served as a partner and shareholder before retiring.
Leadership and community engagement remained central to his life’s work. Mr. Davis served on the Success By 6 Blue Ribbon Committee before serving on the Board for United Way of Central Alabama. During his tenure, he helped strengthen initiatives focused on education, financial stability and health, reinforcing United Way’s commitment to improving lives across Central Alabama.
“Since his first ‘pennies campaign’ as a student at Tuggle Elementary, J. Mason Davis was a passionate leader in our community,” said UWCA President and Chief Executive Officer Drew Langloh. “J. Mason Davis leaves an extraordinary legacy of leadership, service and dedication to justice.
“As the first African American Chairman of the Board for United Way of Central Alabama,” said Langloh, “he helped advance our mission and strengthen the community we serve.
“In recognition of his longstanding service to the community, UWCA approached him to help establish the J. Mason Davis Leadership Society” Langloh said.
“The Society, named in his honor, brings together African American changemakers who champion diversity and opportunity and strive to positively impact the community through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy.
“We offer our sincere condolences to his family and all who mourn his passing,” said Langloh.
Those who knew Mr. Davis understood that his greatest impact extended beyond professional accomplishments or public honors. It lived in the people he mentored, the barriers he helped remove and the opportunities he created for future generations.
United Way of Central Alabama remains grateful for Mr. Davis’s leadership and example. His legacy continues to inspire our work every day as we strive to help people live healthier, more stable and more hopeful lives.
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