Stephen (Steve) Vanture Davis

Stephen Vanture Davis, 67, passed away comfortably with covid on Thursday, August 26, 2021, with his wife Julia by his side in Navarre, Florida. Steve was cherished by many and lived a fascinating, truly unique life. He was a very likable, down-to-earth, charming and soft spoken person. He had endearing friendships from many circles of life, from his beloved hometown friends of Cambridge, Maryland, his close friends from Chicago, his college buddies and his five brother-in-laws from Delaware, all who were like blood brothers to him. His business clients had a deep fondness for Steve, often inviting him and his family to their personal celebrations. Steve was a private person and enjoyed the simpler things in life. He loved music, festivals, the beach, boating, motorcycling, college football, nature’s marvels, and plain adventure. He was very kind and always generous to those less fortunate. Born on June 11, 1954, in Cambridge, Maryland, Steve was a multi-sport star athlete. He still has several unbroken athletic records at Cambridge High School where he earned “Super 11” All-American status as one of the best 11 high school football players in the nation. He received a full scholarship to play college football. He turned down offers from many of the top national programs, choosing to enter the University of Georgia in the fall of 1972 as a heralded quarterback prospect. Nicknamed “Shag” his freshman year for his unruly hair, he transitioned to wide receiver after injuring his throwing arm. Without skipping a beat, Steve became a three-season letterwinner. He was recognized as one of the Bulldogs’ top receivers for the program’s 1976 SEC Championship team. He played in the 1977 Sugar Bowl for the national championship vs Tony Dorsett's Pittsburgh. Long standing UGA coach and athletic director Vince Dooley still claims to this day: "Steve had the best set of hands of anyone I've ever coached". Steve was selected in the 1977 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. Due to injuries, he had a short career there and with the New York Giants and Canadian Tiger Cats. Steve was the primary contributor for the book “Dawgs Gone Wild” written by Patrick Garbin. The book is about Steve's extraordinary life adventures as a student athlete amid the turbulent era of 1970’s Georgia football. After football, Steve went on to ply his skills in professional sales in the printed circuit board industry. He moved to Chicago and worked for the NVF Company for 20 years where he was ranked as their #1 salesperson for nearly two decades. When Steve's aging parents needed to downsize, he moved back home to acquire his childhood home in Cambridge, Maryland. While back home, he learned of Maryland’s depressed blue crab industry and used his contacts out of Vietnam to import pasteurized crabmeat under his own label 'Blue Gourmet Seafood'. Together with his wife, they succeeded in getting their product into 600 grocery stores. After retiring, Steve and his wife moved to Navarre, Florida where they spent most of their days together in pure bliss on the white sand beaches of the 'Emerald Coast'. Steve is survived by his loving wife Julia of 40 years, currently residing in Navarre, Florida, his son Michael Davis and wife Heloisa of 8 years residing in National Harbor, Maryland and brother Robert Davis of Willards, Maryland. A private family service will be held.