By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Wednesday, March 11, 2026

A wave of public condolences is now making its way across social media following the passing of the Rev. Jonathan "Jon" D. Davis from brain cancer on Monday. Davis served as associate vice president for spiritual life at Charleston Southern University and pastor of Summit Church Charleston in South Carolina. He was 58.

Keith Faulkner, the president of CSU, who announced his passing, said Davis’ death from Stage 4 multiform glioblastoma had left him with “mixed emotions” after watching him battle the diagnosis over the last five years.

“He was diagnosed in 2021 and lived the last five years fully continuing to minister on campus and to the many medical personnel he met while receiving treatment at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Mixed because we miss him already, but we are full of praise because he is with Jesus!” Faulkner wrote in a statement to the CSU community.

Davis, who was married to his wife, Lynette, for 38 years, leaves behind four children and three grandchildren, according to his obituary published by Summersett Funeral Home.

Faulkner stated that Davis had a 35-year history at CSU, beginning when he was appointed assistant football coach in 1991. He would stop coaching in 1999 to become the pastor at Summit Church Charleston, where he served until his passing on Sunday.

Davis would later return to CSU in 2004 as an assistant campus pastor. Seven years after that, he became CSU’s campus pastor. In 2018, he added even more titles at the school where he served as assistant dean of students and director of the Whitfield Center for Christian Leadership. He was also named associate vice president for spiritual life in 2019 and served as an adjunct professor in the College of Christian Studies, Faulkner said.

In October 2021, months after he was diagnosed with brain cancer, Davis told students at CSU during a chapel service that their relationship with Jesus would be the most valuable relationship they would ever have in life and urged them to treat it accordingly.

“Your engaging now with the Lord is going to change your life forever. It's going to change your direction forever because Jesus will be more valued to you than the cash flow you get from the job or the person you just married or whatever family you have,” he said. “And wherever you go and wherever you live, I just want you to know that Jesus is the greatest and most impactful person we can ever have.”

In his statement on Davis’ passing, Faulkner said he would share his relationship with Jesus with everyone he met.

“Jon Davis loved Jesus! He shared his love for our Lord with everyone — everyone he met. Jon, Lynette, and their entire family have been instrumental to CSU in immeasurable ways. From sharing the gospel daily, mentoring students, preaching, and sharing a meal with friends and colleagues in the Caf, Jon’s impact on the kingdom has helped to shape eternity for so many,” the CSU president added.

Davis earned several academic degrees, including a Master of Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and was described as a lifelong learner. He was pursuing a doctorate at the time of his death.

His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 13 at First Baptist Church of Salisbury in Salisbury, North Carolina. A visitation period will precede the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A second celebration will also be held at 4 p.m. on March 14 at Charleston Southern University in Lightsey Chapel. 

In announcing those details on Facebook Monday, Davis’ wife shared his life verse from the Book of Psalms.

“Jon embodied his life verse, Psalm 71:18, that says, ‘Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come,’” she wrote.

“As believers, the peace of Christ will guard our hearts and minds (Colossians 3:15). If you are unsure whether you have access to the eternal peace of Christ, please wait no longer.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-jonathan-davis-csu-exec-dies-of-brain-cancer.html