ATLANTA — The artist selected to sculpt a Martin Luther King Jr. statue for the Georgia Capitol grounds died Sunday after a weekend crash involving a suspected drunken driver, a coroner said. Andy Davis was 53.
Davis’ friends remembered him Monday as a passionate artist who mentored young creatives by establishing an arts center in his hometown of McDonough. He brought people from Georgia to life through sculpture, including works of musician Ray Charles and Chick-Fil-A founder Truett Cathy. He was a Bohemian who refused to wear shoes whenever possible but took his work and getting to know his subjects seriously.
“It’s just a huge loss for this community, and I think for the world,” said Elizabeth “BJ” Mathis, who met Davis when he approached her and other Henry County commissioners about sculpting a Patrick Henry statue. “Andy was Andy, no matter where he was.”
Davis was on his motorcycle in Henry County when he was rear-ended by a pickup truck early Saturday morning, the Georgia State Patrol has said. The 20-year-old driver, Corey Sease, has been charged with driving under the influence.
Spokeswoman Franka Young said additional charges could develop from a follow-up investigation.