Soul of 78: John Davis
Pharmacist, Walker Baptist Medical Center
Words by Nick Norris | Image by Justin Hunter
From Highway 78, Walker Baptist Medical Center may look like a standard small-town hospital, but it's much more. It's a community staple, a time capsule, and a refuge. It's where many Jasper natives were born, where some have been given a second chance, and where others spent their final moments.
The men and women working at Walker Baptist clock in every day, knowing that their decisions can either save or lose lives. And although patients may see a few doctors and nurses during their stay, the operation behind-the-scenes is much larger.
John Davis is one of the staff members that goes widely unseen. As a hospital pharmacist, he does not often directly interact with patients. Instead, he usually works away from the patients' rooms.
"I encounter a lot of people who tell me they didn't even know hospitals had a pharmacist," John says with a laugh. "But our role is to stay in constant communication with the doctors and nurses to ensure patients get the best possible care."
The Carbon Hill native stays busy with order verifications, monitoring drug therapy, and preparing medications. But he was not always in this less-recognized, though much-beloved role. In fact, most likely know him from his days working behind the counter at Griffin Pharmacy in Sipsey.
After graduating from McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University in 1987 and spending some time working in Birmingham, John returned home to Walker County and started working at Griffin Pharmacy in 1997.
"Home is home," John says. "I thought for a while that maybe I wanted to get away, but there are good folks here. I wanted to come back to try and do my part, too."
John certainly did his part, filling prescriptions with a welcoming smile to the town of Sipsey until the location closed its doors in 2015.
After 18 years working in a neighborhood pharmacy, John wanted to try something different. He was hired as a hospital pharmacist at Walker Baptist in 2015 and has remained there ever since.
"I enjoy working at Walker Baptist," John says. "It's different from a neighborhood pharmacy, but that's a good thing."
Although John's friendly smile may no longer be greeting customers in a community pharmacy setting, he is still serving Walker County. And that warm smile is still present when he shows up to the hospital pharmacy each morning, and whenever he spots his former patients around town.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, who is also a pharmacist, their two daughters, Erika and Jenny Lynn, and granddaughter Emma. He is also actively involved as an Elder at Argo Church of Christ and finds solace in "playing in the dirt" - gardening and other yardwork - on the family property in Cordova.
Though his efforts are often unseen, John continues to be a steadfast contributor to the community's health, reminding us that the heart of Walker Baptist extends far beyond the visible, reaching into the lives of those who, like John, call Walker County home. 78