Rev. Prentiss John Davis (UUMS 2002) joined the ancestors on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Rev. Prentiss, a native of Detroit, was President of the Unity Ministers Alliance (formerly Independent Alliance of Ministers in Unity) until his death. A memorial for Rev. Prentiss is scheduled for 11:00 am EST on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at McCabe United Methodist Church, 2800 26th Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33712. Condolences may be sent to the church.
Reverend Prentiss John Davis was born August 5, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. He joined the ancestors on March 16, 2025. Prentiss was educated in the Detroit public schools and graduated from Detroit Northern High School in 1964. After high school, he earned an Associate’s degree in Mental Health and Substance Abuse from Wayne State Community College. Prentiss was a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. In 1999, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin.
He graduated from Unity Urban Ministerial School in 2002 and was ordained by Unity in 2004. He held several ministerial positions, including Assistant Minister at Detroit Unity Temple, Senior Minister at Unity Temple of Truth in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Senior Minister at Unity of Ocala, Florida. He was a frequent speaker at Unity churches throughout the United States and served as President of the Independent Alliance of Ministers (known today as Unity Ministers Alliance) in Unity from 2021 until his death.
In addition to the ministry, Prentiss was employed by Chrysler Corporation, where he trained and counseled upper management. He worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, helping low-income persons become self-sufficient, and with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Prentiss was an at-risk youth counselor in Detroit and Wisconsin, and a Unit Supervisor with the Wisconsin Correctional Service.
He received numerous awards and accolades throughout his life, including certificates of appreciation and achievement from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for mentoring and community service. He was the 2023 recipient of the Rev. Ruth Mosley award for outstanding leadership in urban ministry.
Prentiss was an active member of “The Love Pack,” a spiritual book club whose members made annual donations to Gilda’s Club, Noah’s Haven, and many other organizations.
Rev. Prentiss’ physical presence is missed by his sister, Sharon (a Licensed Unity Teacher), wife, Veronica, son Prentiss Jhanel, daughter Tere, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, our Urban School family, and the many. To Rev. Prentiss, we in the Urban School say Godspeed on your next life expression. We love you, we bless you, we appreciate you, and we behold the Christ in you. And to the family, we send our loving thoughts and prayers and affirm the presence of joy that comes through sorrow.
Services for Rev. Prentiss are being held at 11:00 am EST, Saturday, April 5, 2025 at McCabe United Methodist Church, 2800 26th Avenue S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, and on Saturday, May 3, 11:00 am EST, at Detroit Unity Temple, 17205 2nd Avenue, Detroit, I 48203.
At the family’s request, expressions of love may be sent to: Mrs. Veronica Davis, c/o McCabe United Methodist Church, 2800 26th Avenue S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.
In place of flowers, contributions in memory of Rev. Prentiss John Davis can be made to Unity Urban Ministerial School: uums.org/donate, or by check to: Unity Urban Ministerial School, 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2600, Detroit, MI 48243.
Tributes:
“It is with a heavy heart and deep gratitude that I remember my dear friend and colleague, Reverend Prentiss John Davis. We were ordained together in 2004. Our bond began when he joined our class in the second year from Unity Urban Ministerial School, bringing with him the wisdom and love of Rev. Dr. Ruth Mosley. Prentiss carried her message of Truth and Love with such grace and conviction that it was impossible not to be inspired by him. We were roommates during our class trip to the Northwest Region. Through deep conversation, laughter, and reflections, we formed a friendship that was rooted in our shared love for Rev. Ruth’s teachings. Prentiss had a heart and spirit that embraced and uplifted everyone around him. I will always cherish the gift of his friendship and the light he brought into this world. His love, wisdom, and presence will be deeply missed but forever remembered.” Rev. Richard Carlini, Minister – Unity
Center of Davis; Senior Minister – Transform Myself, Inc. Unity Ministry, Walnut Creek, California
“Words are not adequate to express the essence of peace, love, and joy that Rev. Prentiss exuded. I fondly recall one of the last times we spoke in preparation for the IAMU retirees gathering before the 2024 Unity convention. I had the privilege of creating a recording of Prentiss and other leaders of the organizations who were unable to attend in person. We also spoke on several occasions about the future of the Urban School, and he continuously expressed his pleasure at the successes we were making. When the Independent Alliance of Ministers in Unity (IAMU) and UUMS developed the partnership for mentoring UUMS graduates in their first year in ministry after ordination, Rev. Prentiss was the first to volunteer to be a mentor, and Rev. Richard Pacheco did not hesitate to take him up on the offer. Their relationship in that one-year program blossomed to such an extent that they both decided to continue to mentorship for another year. It was truly an honor to present Rev. Prentiss with the Rev. Ruth Mosley award for Outstanding Leadership in Urban Ministry at the 2023 Unity convention. Anyone wishing to learn more about Rev. Prentiss in his voice can check out the videos by Rev. Mark Hicks on TruthUnity.net and on our uums.org home page.” Rev. Sandra Campbell, Executive Director, UUMS and Member of UMA (Unity Ministers Alliance, formerly IAMU).
Your tributes are welcome.