Legendary Alabama Civil Rights Activist J. Mason Davis Dies at 90

Davis was a prominent Birmingham attorney and civil rights leader who played a key role in desegregating Alabama.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:18pm

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J. Mason Davis, a prominent Birmingham attorney and civil rights figure, has died at the age of 90. Davis was a pioneering African American lawyer who argued a series of successful appeals that helped desegregate Alabama in the 1960s. He also served as the first African American president of the Birmingham Bar Association and the first minority adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Why it matters

Davis was a towering figure in Alabama's civil rights history, using his legal expertise to advance racial equality and inclusion. His passing marks the end of an era and the loss of a leader who helped transform the state for the better through his tireless advocacy and community service.

The details

Davis was born in Birmingham in 1935 and educated in the city's segregated public schools. He later attended Talladega College and the State University of New York School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. After returning to Birmingham in 1960, Davis played a key role in the desegregation of Alabama by serving as the attorney for students who participated in the Huntsville lunch counter sit-ins. He argued and won a series of appeals at the Court of Appeals. Davis also made history as the first African American president of the Birmingham Bar Association in 1984 and the first minority adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he taught from 1972 to 1997.

  • Davis was born in Birmingham in 1935.
  • He returned to Birmingham and began his law practice in 1960.
  • Davis served as the attorney for students in the Huntsville lunch counter sit-ins in 1961 and 1962.
  • He became the first African American president of the Birmingham Bar Association in 1984.
  • Davis taught at the University of Alabama School of Law from 1972 to 1997.

The players

J. Mason Davis

A prominent Birmingham attorney and civil rights figure who played a key role in desegregating Alabama through his legal work in the 1960s. He was the first African American president of the Birmingham Bar Association and the first minority adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of Law.

Patrick Packer

A Birmingham businessman who wrote a Facebook post mourning the passing of his friend J. Mason Davis.

The Magic City Bar Association

The group that shared condolences on Facebook, stating that Davis' 'life and work helped change Alabama for the better, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.'

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What they’re saying

“His life and work helped change Alabama for the better, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”

— The Magic City Bar Association

“I will miss our long conversations in person and on the phone about the many stories from his time at Talladega College and his extensive knowledge of the history of our beloved Birmingham. His keen memory of so many Birmingham family and business stories was always amazing to take in. Rest well, my dear friend and Alpha Brother.”

— Patrick Packer, Birmingham businessman

The takeaway

J. Mason Davis' life and work as a pioneering civil rights lawyer and community leader left an indelible mark on Alabama, helping to transform the state for the better through his tireless advocacy and commitment to racial equality. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of leaders and activists.