Limestone County Probate Judge Mike Davis, right, swears in former Athens Mayor Dan Williams to the District 5 House seat on Nov. 11 at the Limestone County Event Center as Williams’ wife Kay holds the Bible. Williams referred to the retiring Davis as a good friend who will always have good advice for anyone who needs it.

It can be argued that no one has had a bigger impact on Limestone County families than Probate Judge Mike Davis.

Throughout his 28-and-a-half year career as probate judge, he’s performed thousands of weddings and presided over numerous adoption ceremonies. In other cases, he’s helped families appoint a guardian for an incapacitated loved one. He’s also had to decide the fate of mentally ill persons who were a danger to themselves or the community.

His desire to spend time with his own family is part of what led him to a decision to retire. On Friday, the judge issued a press release thanking his family, staff, fellow politicians and residents for allowing him to serve the community.

“It’s something I’ve kicked around for a year and a half,” said the 61-year-old Davis about his decision, while also citing health concerns and business interests outside of public service as a motivating factor. “It’s just time to seek new challenges in my life. I’m at peace that it’s time (to retire).”

In a addition to being probate judge, Davis served on numerous committees in the Alabama Probate Judges Association, of which he was elected president in 1992. He was also appointed to and served on a number of other committees, including the Advisory Committee of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Election Law Reform, Legislative Oversight Committee of the five-year vehicle tag program, chairman of the Alabama Electronic Voting Committee, member of the Alabama Law Institute Advisory Committees on Children Code Review and a lifetime member of the National College of Probate Judges Association and the National Association of County Recorders Clerks, Election Officials and Clerks.

If approved by Alabama Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, Davis’ retirement will become effective on May 1. Gov. Robert Bentley will then appoint Davis’ successor.

Early ambitions

Davis’ life in public service actually began as a teacher at Ardmore High School, where he spent 11 and a half years teaching government and economics, while also coaching boys and girls basketball, girls softball and volleyball. He was also instrumental in helping bring girls athletics to the school.

In 1978, Davis decided to run for the Alabama District 5 House seat held by Tommy Carter. He lost the election, but knew he wanted to run for political office again in four years.

“It was by the grace of God that I was defeated,” he said.

In 1982, he decided to run for probate judge and won, defeating Gary Daly, now a Limestone County commissioner.

“(Being elected probate judge) allowed me to stay at home and see my children grow up and still serve the public,” he said.

Marriages and adoptions are two facets of the job that Davis said he enjoyed the most. He recalled that one of his early marriage ceremonies was performed on the back of a horse-drawn carriage by the river.

“During my first two terms, I went everywhere to do marriages,” he said. “It was a good political move.”

Davis said he’s probably performed an average of 400 marriages per year over the course of his career, though he noted that he had some repeat customers over the years.

Office successes

The election process is another area he said he was proud to have been involved in, especially the changeover to electronic voting. Limestone County was the first county to implement electronic voting in 1992 with a machine to count absentee ballots. By 1994, the whole voting process was electronic. He said he always promised a fair, if not perfect, election.

The move toward further digitalization continues even as Davis prepares to retire. His office is in the final phase of transferring all probate records dating back to 1892 to digital form.

Though most of his career has been marked by the joy of helping families, it hasn’t been without its tragedy. He cited the murder of two Athens Police officers in 2004 by Farron Barksdale — who had previously been diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic — as the low point of his career.

“To see the pain in the lives of the officers’ families and to see the pain in the young man who committed the murders; those kinds of things will age you quick,” he said. “It’s just a heavy burden.”

He said treatment for the mentally ill has come a long way, but he fears a regression in how local and state governments respond to those who need immediate treatment. He also is concerned about drug addiction throughout the county and its effect on families.

“I have seen the effect of drugs on families,” he said. “We’re seeing more grandparents having to step up to the plate (to care for children).”

Former Mayor Dan Williams, now serving as District 5 representative in the Alabama House, said the community will lose a good probate judge in Davis, because he’s not only been a great judge, but a leader in the community.

“He’s always been fair to people and never favored party over people’s needs,” Williams said, while adding that he sought Davis’ opinion before running for the House seat. “He’s a close friend of mine and I’ve always valued his friendship. He’s always given me good advice. He’ll always tell you his opinion on things.”

Though Davis has accomplished much during his time in office, he gives much credit to his staff, which he said has been faithful to serving the community.

“I have been so privileged to have a staff that bought in from day one, that this office is to serve the people,” he said. “The chairs we sit in belong to the people that we serve.”

And though he plans to spend more time with his family, Davis insists he’ll still be around.

“I won’t go anywhere and will be involved in the community,” he said. “(I’m retiring) with great anticipation of what lies before me with this challenge.”