Davis was born on March 1, 1898, in
Noble Lake, Arkansas. He was a son of Miles Dewey Davis Sr. and Mary (Luster) Davis. He was educated at the Arkansas State Normal School (now
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff) in
Pine Bluff, Arkansas and received his
Bachelor of Science degree at
Arkansas Baptist College in
Little Rock in 1919. His studies continued at
Lincoln University in
Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1924, Davis graduated from
Northwestern University Dental School in
Chicago,
Illinois and began his practice the same year. He was a member of the
Omega Psi Phi fraternity and the
National Medical Association.), born May 10, 1925 – July 5, 1996 – December 15, 1999 Davis moved the family to
Alton, Illinois, and then to
East St. Louis, Illinois, where he served as State Educational Director of the Elks Club. Very active socially and politically, he was also a member of the
Prince Hall Freemasonry,
Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, American Woodsmen, and the
N.A.A.C.P. At one time, Davis made an unsuccessful bid for a seat on the Illinois State Legislature. ==Later years==