Obituary for Mary Deborah Lee (Davis)
“Forgive yourself and everybody else and be healed”
Mary Deborah Davis Lee was the second child of nine born to the union of Robert Jenkins Davis and Alfreda Lillian Fairconatue Davis of Mobile, Alabama on February 9, 1931 in Mobile, Alabama. She was transitioned into glory on Friday, March 20, 2020 at her residence in Mobile, AL at 2:08 AM.
Mary was a gifted, talented and delightful child. She came to accept Christ and serve faithfully under the late Pastor Bailey at the original Mason Memorial Church of God in Christ (COGIC) where she was the choir director. She played some piano, the trumpet and also sang in a group with her sisters called “Joyful Noise.”
Attending Katy Carroll School, A.F. Owens School and Dunbar Jr. High School, Mary had the distinguished honor of graduating from the first class of The Historic Central High School in 1948. She then went on to graduate from Spaulding Business College (Mobile, AL) in 1950 and later furthered her studies in education and teaching at Loop College (now Harold Washington College).
Mary married the late Bishop Eligah Davis on December 27, 1953 and she worked tirelessly beside him as he pastored the Chicago, IL branch of the Church of God Pentecostal, Inc. (COGP). Her exceptional ministry chronicled many decades and dimensions of Christian stewardship, which afforded her the ability to offer service in an array of areas which includes: First Lady to Bishop Eligah Davis (COGP) in Chicago, Illinois and Supt. Albert Lee, Jr. (COGIC) subsequently in Mobile, AL; Ministry of Helps, Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Band Teacher, Pastor’s Aide Ministry, and the Church Secretary for the National COGP. Never tiring in her Christian service, in 2017, she was appointed as the first Church Mother to Worship Free Ministries in Chicago, IL. In concert with her Christian ministry, Mary led an impressive and enterprising career of business administration and social services having worked faithfully at the U.S. Post Office, Lutheran Child & Family Services, the Chicago Urban League and the U.S. Veteran’s Administration.
She was a woman of God that loved and embraced everyone. Some of the best talents she possessed was her great cooking ability and penchant for hospitality. Her earnest desire to help young people were evidenced by the flock of young adults that frequently camped out at their residence. Mary was a daughter. And a sister. And a niece. And a wife. And a mother. AND… an aunt who was adored by her nieces and nephews. She was a prayerful woman who took time to share her wisdom in a relevant, yet simple and compassionate manner while extending motherly mentoring to countless young women and men.
She was an avid reader, loved to cook, play crossword puzzles, was an excellent seamstress, and every morning could be heard singing and clapping her hands as she opened her day with praise.
She was preceded by her grandparents; (Brother Peter and Rachel Fairconatue), her parents, her husband; Bishop Eligah Davis, five (5) siblings; Robert Davis, Rachel Sewer (Samuel), Joseph Davis, Alberta Oliver (Elder James Oliver); Elbert Davis; her youngest son; Elder Derwin Davis, eight (8) aunts and three (3) uncles.
She leaves to celebrate the touch of her legacy, three sisters, Mother Alfreda Strother, Mother Zemma Myles (Junior), Mother Ann Davis, all of Mobile, AL; her children; Elder Enoch O. Davis (LaVerne) of Mobile, AL; Apostle Alfrenette Davis of Pensacola, FL; Evangelist Lori Vicki Kelley (Bishop Michael) of Lansing, IL; Carstella Osborne of Mobile, AL; Bessie Jean Brown of Mobile, AL; Albert Lee III of Mobile, AL; Cheryl Nodd (Tony) of Mobile, AL; grandson Elijah E. Davis of Birmingham, AL; several other grandchildren; Godchildren: Elder James L. Simon, Apostle Johnny Young (Brenda Young); Rosemary McGuire Randolph; Tongogara Drew Myles, Jeanne Bryant; Kiona England; Her loving life daughters Elder Pamela Cratic; Cynthia England-Griffin, Loretta England and LaToya Butler, LaTonya Edmond and Scherita Mixon; Her special son, Pastor Charles Archie (Debra); her beloved nieces and nephews along with a host of spiritual sons and daughters.
Mary Deborah Davis Lee was the second child of nine born to the union of Robert Jenkins Davis and Alfreda Lillian Fairconatue Davis of Mobile, Alabama on February 9, 1931 in Mobile, Alabama. She was transitioned into glory on Friday, March 20, 2020 at her residence in Mobile, AL at 2:08 AM.
Mary was a gifted, talented and delightful child. She came to accept Christ and serve faithfully under the late Pastor Bailey at the original Mason Memorial Church of God in Christ (COGIC) where she was the choir director. She played some piano, the trumpet and also sang in a group with her sisters called “Joyful Noise.”
Attending Katy Carroll School, A.F. Owens School and Dunbar Jr. High School, Mary had the distinguished honor of graduating from the first class of The Historic Central High School in 1948. She then went on to graduate from Spaulding Business College (Mobile, AL) in 1950 and later furthered her studies in education and teaching at Loop College (now Harold Washington College).
Mary married the late Bishop Eligah Davis on December 27, 1953 and she worked tirelessly beside him as he pastored the Chicago, IL branch of the Church of God Pentecostal, Inc. (COGP). Her exceptional ministry chronicled many decades and dimensions of Christian stewardship, which afforded her the ability to offer service in an array of areas which includes: First Lady to Bishop Eligah Davis (COGP) in Chicago, Illinois and Supt. Albert Lee, Jr. (COGIC) subsequently in Mobile, AL; Ministry of Helps, Choir Director, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Band Teacher, Pastor’s Aide Ministry, and the Church Secretary for the National COGP. Never tiring in her Christian service, in 2017, she was appointed as the first Church Mother to Worship Free Ministries in Chicago, IL. In concert with her Christian ministry, Mary led an impressive and enterprising career of business administration and social services having worked faithfully at the U.S. Post Office, Lutheran Child & Family Services, the Chicago Urban League and the U.S. Veteran’s Administration.
She was a woman of God that loved and embraced everyone. Some of the best talents she possessed was her great cooking ability and penchant for hospitality. Her earnest desire to help young people were evidenced by the flock of young adults that frequently camped out at their residence. Mary was a daughter. And a sister. And a niece. And a wife. And a mother. AND… an aunt who was adored by her nieces and nephews. She was a prayerful woman who took time to share her wisdom in a relevant, yet simple and compassionate manner while extending motherly mentoring to countless young women and men.
She was an avid reader, loved to cook, play crossword puzzles, was an excellent seamstress, and every morning could be heard singing and clapping her hands as she opened her day with praise.
She was preceded by her grandparents; (Brother Peter and Rachel Fairconatue), her parents, her husband; Bishop Eligah Davis, five (5) siblings; Robert Davis, Rachel Sewer (Samuel), Joseph Davis, Alberta Oliver (Elder James Oliver); Elbert Davis; her youngest son; Elder Derwin Davis, eight (8) aunts and three (3) uncles.
She leaves to celebrate the touch of her legacy, three sisters, Mother Alfreda Strother, Mother Zemma Myles (Junior), Mother Ann Davis, all of Mobile, AL; her children; Elder Enoch O. Davis (LaVerne) of Mobile, AL; Apostle Alfrenette Davis of Pensacola, FL; Evangelist Lori Vicki Kelley (Bishop Michael) of Lansing, IL; Carstella Osborne of Mobile, AL; Bessie Jean Brown of Mobile, AL; Albert Lee III of Mobile, AL; Cheryl Nodd (Tony) of Mobile, AL; grandson Elijah E. Davis of Birmingham, AL; several other grandchildren; Godchildren: Elder James L. Simon, Apostle Johnny Young (Brenda Young); Rosemary McGuire Randolph; Tongogara Drew Myles, Jeanne Bryant; Kiona England; Her loving life daughters Elder Pamela Cratic; Cynthia England-Griffin, Loretta England and LaToya Butler, LaTonya Edmond and Scherita Mixon; Her special son, Pastor Charles Archie (Debra); her beloved nieces and nephews along with a host of spiritual sons and daughters.