Congregation Mourns Slain Durham Deacon

Family members of Charles Forest Davis found him dead Wednesday night on the floor of his 2913 Nellowood St. home.

Sheriff investigators said the church deacon had been stabbed.

The congregation at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church remembered the beloved deacon Sunday morning. He had been a member there for more than 50 years.

“People were calling me, crying and they just couldn't handle it. Just couldn't get over it, to be that age, to leave like that,” Rev. James Freeman said.

“He didn't deserve to die like this. No one deserves to die like this,” church member Robert Wiggins said.

Davis lived less than a mile from the Dearborn Drive church. Family members said it appeared Davis was killed during a robbery.

Investigators continue to pursue leads and said they feel good about the prospects for making an arrest soon.

“We have to pray for those peoples. They know not, they can't know, what they've done. 'Cause their life is ruined. They've took a life from us, so they can't know what they did,” Church Deacon Patsy McNair said. “He's resting right now, no pain, no sadness. He's just with God."

Funeral services for Davis were planned for noon Thursday at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. There will also be a public viewing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Fisher Funeral Parlor.