Iva’s Davis: A legacy passed down in service, banking and faith
It is often said that legacy is what we leave behind. For Christopher Nakia Davis, legacy is also what was handed to him carefully, intentionally and across generations. In Iva, S.C., where roots run deep and community ties matter, Davis’ life tells a story not just of personal success, but of stewardship — of name, profession, faith, education and service passed down and lived forward.
Even his name carries history. Davis’ middle name, Nakia — the name he has always gone by — was inspired by a television western his mother loved while pregnant with him. What began as a thoughtful choice became an identity that would come to symbolize continuity and character. Much like his name, Davis’ path in life would follow a lineage shaped by purpose and example.
Born and raised in Iva, a town of fewer than 2,000 people, Davis grew up in a place defined by simplicity, shared responsibility and an unmistakable sense of family.
“Everybody knows each other,” he said. “It’s like one big family. Growing up in a small community gives you a chance to serve and grow where everyone pitches in to make things happen.”
From the fire department to youth sports and school mentoring programs, Davis learned early how strong communities are built by people who show up. The lesson continues to guide him today through his service as president of the Iva Recreation Association, where more than 1,000 children are served annually, his role as assistant golf coach at the local high school and even pulling the chains on Friday nights on the same football field where he once played more than three decades ago.
Davis is a third-generation community banker, a calling he recognized before he was 10 years old. His grandfather served as president of a local community bank for more than 40 years.
“I still remember going by his office and sitting in his chair behind his desk, using the typewriter,” Davis said. “I told him I wanted to be a banker like him.”
This childhood aspiration became reality and responsibility. Davis now serves as president and CEO of The Commercial Bank, an institution founded more than 90 years ago during the Great Depression, when banks across the country were closing their doors.
“Nothing is more rewarding than knowing you were able to help someone buy their first car, their first home or simply help them make a financial decision that ultimately affects them for the rest of their life,” Davis said.
He often draws
parallels between banking and school board service. Both, he said, are forms of
community stewardship — roles that require trust, accountability and a
servant’s heart.
Service to public
education also runs deep in Davis’ family. His grandfather, father and uncle
all served on local school boards in Anderson County. When his uncle chose not
to seek re-election to the Anderson County Board of Education, he encouraged
Davis to run for his seat.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” Davis said.
Serving the same district which educated him, his wife and their three daughters gives his role deeper meaning. Today, his wife and eldest daughter teach in Anderson School District Three, and his youngest daughter hopes to do the same after graduating from Anderson University (AU).
“When I look at what public education in a small town has done for my family,” he said, “it makes me want to give back and make sure the next generation has even better opportunities.”
AU holds a special place in Davis’ life and legacy. His grandmother received a degree there and served on the university’s Board of Visitors, and Davis himself completed his degree there while working full-time at the bank. Davis is now serving his fourth term on the AU Board of Trust. One daughter has already graduated from AU, and another is on track to graduate in 2027.
The university’s faith-based environment and close-knit community left a lasting impression, especially during one of the most challenging moments of his life. While completing his senior project, Davis’ first daughter was born nine weeks early and spent nearly two weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. Classmates held study sessions in hospital waiting rooms, and professors checked in personally.
“It made a lifelong impression on me and makes me strive to give with a servant’s heart,” Davis said.
Faith is the foundation upon which Davis orders his family. It remains his greatest joy. Married to his high school sweetheart, Brooke, for more than 26 years, Davis is the father of three accomplished daughters. Coaching them through their youth sports years remains one of his most treasured roles.
When asked how he hopes to be remembered, Davis does not list titles or accomplishments. Instead, he returns to service.
“I hope they say he
was hard-working and dedicated,” he said. “But the most important words I hope
to hear one day are, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’”