Rev. Gary Otis Davidson, age 79 of the Nebo Community, Jena, Louisiana, left this life for his Heavenly Home on Saturday, May 17, 2025. He was born to the union of Ottis Welsby Davidson and Nancy Callie (Collins) Davidson on Friday, December 21, 1945, in Jena, Louisiana.

Gary was baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the Holy Ghost when he was 17 years of age, after graduating from Jena High School. About a year later, he felt his call to the ministry. He went to Houston, Texas, to Texas Bible College and graduated in 1967. He dated Jackie, whom he met at the college, and they married the summer after he graduated. They evangelized and pastored small churches until 1989, when he went to Jena UPC (Christ Temple) where he assisted Rev. Crawford Coon for 18 years. He along with Bro. James Elliott built the beautiful Christ Temple edifice Bro. Gary handled every board inside the building two or three times.

He really enjoyed finish carpentry.  He felt his greatest accomplishment was the 2 ½ years spent building Christ Temple.

Bro. Gary was an anointed tenor singer. He was a prayerful man and had read his Bible through many times. Bro. Gary was faithful to his beliefs and convictions. He loved The Lord Jesus and was a true follower and servant of Jesus Christ.

He was a great and caring husband to Jackie for 58 years. Bro. Gary was a gracious, attentive, and loving father to their two daughters. He loved keeping a nice lawn and really enjoyed mowing the two acres where they lived.  They moved into his Granddaddy Collins' old homeplace, and with his carpenter skills, he made it into a lovely home for his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ellis Davidson, and Charles Davidson & his wife, Nona Farley Davidson.

Those left to love and miss him are his wife, Jacquelyn "Jackie" Ruth (Henderson) Davidson, two daughters  Lynne Basco & husband Darrell, of Pineville, Kathy Brown & husband Mark, of  Jena, two sisters JoAlice Young & husband Rev. Curtis, of Elk Grove, CA,  and Cathy Smith & husband Rev. Danny, of Loranger,  a sister-in-law  Becky Smith  Davidson, of Houston, TX,  two grandsons Jacob Toler & wife Sadie, of Jena, Samuel Toler & Laura Brewer, of Jena, a granddaughter Mallory Basco & Patrick Kolakowski, of Austin, TX, three great grandchildren Briella Toler, Jesse Toler, and Elijah Toler, all of Jena,  a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Shady Grove United Pentecostal Church of the Sharptown Community south of Jena, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.

A Home Going Celebration will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Shady Grove United Pentecostal Church with Rev. Curtis Thornton, Rev. Dan McClure, Rev. Tracy Henderson, Rev. Darian Hosch, Rev. Darrell Collins, and Rev. Randall Bryant officiating.

Bro. Gary will be laid to rest following the service in the Woodland Cemetery, east of Jena, under the directions of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home.

Those honored to serve Bro. Gary and his family as Pallbearers are Jacob Toler, Samuel Toler, Jonathan Smith, Orlan Davidson, Eric Henderson, and Ryan Henderson. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Van Collins, Johnny Wayne Bradford, and Scott Fuqua.