Anita Louise Davis

Anita Louise Davis was born on October 3, 1936, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She moved to Tallahassee in 1979 and spent 12 years as the President of the Tallahassee Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1981-1990 and again in 2001-2002. In 1990, she became the first African American woman elected to the Leon County Board of County Commissioners, representing District 1. She was also the first African American woman to serve as Commission Chair from 1993-1994. During her time in office, Davis was central in leading County projects like the construction of new ballparks in Woodville, the Dr. B.L. Perry, Jr. Branch Library, and the health clinic now located on Old Bainbridge Road. She also served as the liaison to the Lake Munson Action Team, which developed an action plan to restore Lake Munson. These efforts ultimately included the restoration of Lake Henrietta, located upstream along the Munson Slough. In 2018, Leon County Government honored Commissioner Davis with the naming of the County's Anita L. Davis Preserve at Lake Henrietta Park. Davis made many contributions to her community, including serving as NAACP ACT-SO Chair for 22 years and President of the Jake Gaither Neighborhood Association. Davis died on January 17, 2021, and is buried at Tallahassee National Cemetery.