Called 'Odie', she was the daughter of Fleming Dudley 'Tim' Smithson and Orlena Maxwell. Born in Indian Territory, (later Braggs, Muskogee Co., OK.) she was one of six children who were; Lee Roy, Ethel Mabel, Fleming Francis, Birdie Irene, and Dovie Idora.
Leota's father died in 1897 and her mother in 1900 leaving the children orphans. Leota and Fleming went to good homes, Dovie and Birdie to an uncle who later placed them in an orphanage in MO. and Lee Roy was left to fend for himself.
On Nov. 30, 1913, when she was just 14 or 15, she married Oswald Temple Davis who was 18. The marriage lasted for 68 years.
Leota was a tiny little thing but was the mother of Novie Lester, Catherine May, Mary Lorraine, Ruth Marie, Joanna, twins Dora and Dorothy (died at birth), Lennie Audine, Orlena Beryldene, Birdie Irene (died at birth), Shirley Laverne (died at birth), James Oren, and Jerry Fleming. These children were born between 1916 and 1838. Supposedly she had more children that died at birth but we only have the names of these.
Leota was born after her father had died so it was believed that since she had never seen his face she had healing powers. People with illnesses and afflictions would come to their door at all hours and want her to touch them. She said it frightened her. To make matters worse, she ran a high fever when she was very young and it injured her hearing. This made her withdraw even more.
Leota was a very beautiful child that grew into a beautiful girl. The story I like the best is when her teenage daughters sashayed down town in Braggs. A man laughed at them and said, "You Davis girls really think you are something but your Mama was the prettiest girl to ever come out of this town." The daughter that told me that story said it sure took the wind out of their sails.