Former Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis has filed a lawsuit against his former wife for not complying with their divorce settlement by disparaging him publicly and not refinancing their former home in her name.
The couple divorced after 27 years in 2023 as Davis was completing his second term as mayor. The bitter split included allegations from his ex-wife of Davis’ adultery with a city-paid consultant.
Davis’ former wife Evett has since remarried and is now Evett Williams. Davis and Williams, both pastors, maintain an interest in politics and Williams registered a campaign for county commissioner in April.
Davis also launched his campaign for chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia in the spring. The statewide title, a full-time position, is elected by ranking party members.
It was around the time of his campaign for chairman Davis contends Williams broke their agreement not to disparage one another.
Williams violated the settlement provision by “making disparaging remarks about petitioner to a third party, who subsequently posted petitioner’s private information about the marriage on social media and Youtube,” according to Davis’ May 19 complaint.
Attached to the petition are a handful of photocopied screen-grabs appearing to show the disparaging content. None of them mention Davis or Williams by name but they include photos closely resembling the former mayor and showing him with another woman.
“This is your next Democratic chairperson or your next governor, according to him,” said the poster. “He stood before the church and denied everything, lied on his wife, who is a great friend of my wife and I KNOW HIM,” said another.
The settlement agreement includes a sweeping ban on publishing on “any public medium,” social media or “electronic messaging to any third persons” any comments critical of the other. These could include disparaging or derogatory remarks, criticisms or statements that interfere with his or business interests, employment, personal and public life, it said.
Williams got the marital home, its mortgage, a second house which has been sold and Davis’ city retirement in the divorce. The settlement calls for her to refinance the loan in her name alone and take over payments.
According to Davis, two years have passed and Williams has not refinanced the loan.
Property records show Davis deeded the house to Williams around the time of their divorce and that Williams is listed as owner.
The five judges of the Augusta Judicial Circuit recused themselves from the case June 9. Williams has not responded to the lawsuit.
