Former Newborn mayor Sheridan Davis was a lifelong resident of Newborn, where he was born and raised. He made more than a few contributions to his small town.

“He actually cared what happened to the town of Newborn,” said Davis’s daughter-in-law Lanelle Davis. “What happened to Newborn mattered to him. He wanted it to thrive and prosper and maintain its old-country feel.”

Davis was elected to his first term in 1994, and was then reelected in 1998. In his two terms as mayor, he officially brought Newton County water to Newborn and got an alcohol license passed for the town.

One of his largest undertakings was restoring the old store where Newborn Town Hall is now housed, along with Lanette Ziegler herself.

“He was instrumental in getting the Ziegler-Childs Building [Newborn Town Hall] reconstructed,” said Elisa Rowe, Newborn Town Clerk.

In addition to focusing on rebuilding projects in Newborn, Davis also concentrated his efforts on planning and zoning.

Lanelle explained that her father-in-law started “self-made” early on in his life.

Davis first began welding at his uncle’s welding shop in Social Circle. Though he had a few other jobs over the years, Davis eventually opened his own business -S.H. Davis Welding and Repair.

“It was a backyard business that grew,” Lanelle said. He later passed the family business on to his son Eric, Lanelle’s husband.

Davis was an outdoorsman who loved making woodcrafts and drawing. Lanelle remembered a time when he once made a ship out of metal.

“He was one-of-a-kind,” she said.

One of Davis’s greatest joys came from spending time with his family.

“He loved his grandbabies and great-grandbabies,” Lanelle said. “They were a very important part of his life.”

Davis is survived by his wife Mary, their children and great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

“He will be missed more than he will ever know,” Lanelle said.