Andy Davis, sculptor who created Ray Charles statue in Albany, dies from crash injuries

MCDONOUGH — Andy Davis, the sculptor who created the Ray Charles statue in downtown Albany and who last month was chosen to create a statue of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. for the State Capitol grounds, has died.

Davis’ wife, Gerri Davis, said Monday morning that her 53-year-old husband had died overnight. Andy Davis was injured around 12:35 a.m. Saturday when his motorcycle was hit from behind on the Jodeco Road bridge at Interstate Highway 75 in McDonough.

Last last month, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Davis had been selected to create the life-sized bronze statue of King that would be located on the Capitol grounds. On Monday, the governor said Davis’ death was a loss for the family, his community and the state.

“I’m deeply saddened by the death of Andy Davis,” Deal said. “This tragedy is not only a loss for his family, but for the Henry County community and our state. He leaves behind a legacy of excellent work, and I regret that will not include a statue on our Capitol grounds that many generations of Georgians would have admired. Sandra and I offer our prayers, support and encouragement to his family during this difficult time.”

In Albany, Davis’ statue of Albany native Ray Charles, the centerpiece of a keyboard-themed plaza named for him that overlooks the Flint River, has become a destination site for those visiting Albany.

The illuminated, life-sized bronze of Charles at his grand piano rotates while Charles’ songs can be heard on the sound system at that plaza.

A miniature version of the statue, created so those who are vision impaired can experience the art honoring the performer who was blind, is located north of the plaza at the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, also on Front Street.

CVB Director Rashelle Beasley said she was shocked when she learned about the wreck.

“He was a great guy to work with,” she said, “just a wealth of talent and knowledge.

“It’s devastating, to have someone who’s so talented and then this happens so suddenly.”

Beasley said she had spoken recently with Davis. The bureau had been discussing with him the possibility of producing smaller miniature reproductions of the statue for sale in the CVB Welcome Center, but the price point for the product was out of the bureau’s range.

Davis’ work will be admired and appreciated for a long time to come by those visiting Albany, Beasley said.

“Albany is fortunate to have such a great asset like the Ray Charles Plaza,” she said. “It has become a destination site for many.”

Georgia State Patrol Trooper Clayton Jones told the Henry Daily Herald that Davis was injured Friday when his motorcycle was hit from behind by a Toyota pick-up truck driven by Corey Ashton Sease, 20.

Sease, 20, of Oak Park Drive in McDonough, has been charged with DUI under the age of 21, following too closely and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. He posted bond and was released from Henry County Jail.

In addition to his Ray Charles statue, Davis, a full-time sculptor since 1999, had created the Georgia Police Memorial and works depicting Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, Griffin County founder Gen. Lawrence Griffin and Patrick Henry.

Davis worked from his Andy Davis Studio in the Hood Street Arts Center in McDonough. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children.

Kathy Jefcoats of the Henry Daily Herald contributed to this report.