Burge Upshaw Davis (1894–1966) was a longtime Englewood, New Jersey resident whose life blended family devotion, church leadership, and sustained commitment to youth and community life. Born in Apalachee, Georgia, in 1894, Davis moved north during the Great Migration and settled in Englewood in 1924, making the city his home for more than four decades.

Davis was a devoted member of Galilee Methodist Church, where he was widely respected for his steady presence and service. His connection to the church extended beyond worship: after his death, his family and friends donated an illuminated outdoor sign in his memory, a public marker of the esteem in which he was held by the congregation and neighborhood.

Perhaps Davis’s most enduring legacy was his work with young people. For 15 years, he financed and supported local sandlot and youth baseball, most notably the Englewood Cubs, helping provide opportunities, equipment, and structure for generations of young athletes in Englewood and Bergen County. He also assisted in organizing the baseball team of American Legion Post 58, further underscoring his belief in sports as a vehicle for discipline, mentorship, and community pride.

In 1912, Davis married Marie Cheyney of Farmington, Georgia. The couple raised a large family and became well known locally. In 1962, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows at Galilee Methodist Church, an event attended by hundreds of friends, relatives, civic leaders, and city dignitaries, reflecting their deep roots in Englewood’s social and religious life.

Burge Upshaw Davis died at his home at 167 William Street in 1966 at the age of 71. His funeral was held at Galilee Methodist Church, with burial in Brookside Cemetery in Englewood. Remembered as a quiet but steadfast community builder, Davis left behind a legacy defined less by titles than by decades of service—particularly to the city’s youth, its churches, and its families.

Davis was also Leroy McCloud's father-in-law. 

"Burge U. Davis of Englewood Is Dead At 71." The Record, 11 Jan. 1966, p.37.