Longtime Hall County educator C.W. Davis died Saturday at age 96.

Davis served as superintendent of Hall County Schools from 1977-1983. He started in the county in 1953 as principal of Flowery Branch School. After four years, he opened South Hall High School, where he worked for 11 years.

A Hall County middle school bears his name.

Davis was a native of Lavonia, where he grew up on a farm. He was a star basketball player and graduate of Piedmont College in Demorest. He joined the Army Air Corps and served in World War II.

After the war, he earned a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and to complete a six-year specialist degree in school administration from the University of Georgia. He joined the Hall County school system as a principal, and also worked for the state Department of Education.

The North Georgia Community Foundation created the C.W. Davis Scholarship in 2014 to help Hall County teachers seek advanced degrees in public education.

Davis and his late wife, Margie, were parents of three sons and a daughter. Son Jerry was a longtime basketball coach at Gainesville High, and son Jody was a major league baseball player.

In 1960, he helped found the Lanierland Basketball Tournament, which includes all county high schools, an event that still continues. He also served on the Oakwood City Council, as well as several civic clubs and organizations.

Davis is survived by his four children, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Oakwood. Memorial Park South Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.