Mary Davis of the S.O.S. Band Will Be Honored in Savannah With an Intersection Naming After the Singer Behind 1980s Hit Take Your Time

SAVANNAH, GA — Mary Davis is set to receive a hometown honor in Savannah next week, with an intersection being dedicated in her name. The singer helped lead The S.O.S. Band, the 1980s R&B group best known for “Take Your Time” (Do It Right), and the recognition comes after a recent health setback.

Davis said she suffered a stroke about six months ago, which has made it harder for her to say everything she wants to express. Even so, she described the moment as deeply enjoyable and said she is excited to have a street bearing her name.

The Savannah native behind a No. 1 R&B classic

Davis’ music career gave her a permanent place in R&B history. As the lead vocalist for The S.O.S. Band, she fronted “Take Your Time” (Do It Right), a song that reached No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart and went on to be certified gold.

That success made her one of the most recognizable voices tied to the decade’s dance and soul sound. For Savannah, the upcoming dedication is a chance to connect that national music legacy back to a local artist who grew up in the city.

The honor is also a reminder that Davis’ story is not only about a hit record. It is also about a hometown performer whose career reached far beyond Georgia while still keeping a local connection that has lasted for decades.

A Tompkins High School graduate returns to be celebrated

Davis graduated from Tompkins High School in 1962, giving Savannah another reason to claim her as one of its own. The intersection naming follows that long local tie and brings her achievements back into the neighborhoods where her story began.

Hometown honors like this often resonate because they link a familiar place to a widely known name. In Davis’ case, the city is marking both her personal roots and the national attention she earned through music.

The recognition also underscores how artists can remain closely associated with the places that shaped them, even after major commercial success. Savannah’s tribute places Davis’ career in that broader context without separating it from her early life in the city.

Carl Gilliard helped secure the intersection dedication

State Rep. Carl Gilliard is behind the effort to have the intersection of State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue dedicated in Davis’ honor. The spot will carry her name as part of a public tribute that links the singer to a specific corner of her hometown.

That kind of dedication can give fans and residents a tangible place to recognize a figure whose impact was largely heard through music. Instead of a plaque or a ceremony alone, the honor will become part of the city’s daily traffic and geography.

For Davis, that means the recognition will remain visible long after the event itself ends. The intersection will stand as a permanent reminder of her connection to Savannah and the success she found with The S.O.S. Band.

The honor comes just months after Davis’ stroke

The timing of the tribute adds extra weight to the moment. Davis said the honor means a great deal to her as she continues recovering after a stroke that happened roughly six months ago.

Her comments reflected both gratitude and difficulty, since the stroke has affected how many words she can bring out at once. Even with those limitations, she said she feels excited and happy about the recognition from her hometown.

That detail makes the ceremony more than a simple naming event. It becomes a public show of appreciation for an artist whose voice helped define a classic R&B hit and whose current health journey has made the acknowledgment even more meaningful.

Monday morning ceremony will mark the Savannah tribute

The dedication is scheduled for Monday morning at 11 a.m. That timing gives local fans, residents and civic leaders a specific moment to gather and see the intersection officially recognized in Davis’ name.

With the ceremony set for State Route 204 and Tibet Avenue, Savannah is preparing to fold one of its own into the city’s landscape. The event brings together her music career, her school history and her hometown roots in a single public gesture.

For supporters of The S.O.S. Band and longtime Savannah residents alike, the honor will spotlight a familiar voice in a very local way. It is a reminder that a national hit can still leave its strongest mark close to home.

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