Born in Girard, Alabama, (now incorporated with Phenix City). She was the last of thirteen children and the twelfth daughter of the late Green Dukes and Chaney Smith. She received her education at Spelman Seminary, now Spelman College, in Atlanta, Georgia. She then attended Fisk University (1914) in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated with a B. A. degree in Education.
In October of 1914, Davis married the late Philip McDonald Davis, a 1911 graduate of Morehouse College. At the time of their marriage, her husband was principal of Slater School in Birmingham, Alabama for three years. In 1918, the union was blessed with there first child, Philip, Jr.
In 1920, the Davis family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where Mr. Davis taught Mathematics and Greek and was Business Manager at Morehouse College. His wife spent these years as a housewife and mother.
In 1923, another son, Griffith, was born, and five years later in 1928, a daughter, Dovie, completed the young family. It was also during theses years that Mrs. Davis completed her Master's Degree in Economics from Atlanta University. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board of Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church, serving from 1935-1939, while her husband was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
After her husband's death in 1939, Davis resumed her career, this time, not as a teacher, but as an adviser and counselor to young college women. That same year she became a housemother at the Atlanta University dormitory. In 1941, she went to Dillard University and in 1942 to Arkansas A. M. & N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At both of these schools she served as Acting Dean of Women. In 1944, she came to Washington, D. C., where she was appointed Dormitory Educational Staff Director at Howard University. During this period Davis studied guidance and counseling at Columbia University and at Catholic University. Respected and well-liked, Davis affectionately was referred to as "Mother Davis" by the Howard University students and graduates.
Davis retired from the Dean of Women's Staff at Howard University in 1957. She was finally free to travel and travel she did. She traveled extensively in Europe and Africa living with her son Griffith in Tunisia and her daughter, Dovie in Liberia. When she returned to the United States in 1960, she made her home in Birmingham, Alabama, after the death of a sister and her brother-in-law. She remained in Birmingham until 1964 when she returned to Washington, D. C., where she lived until her demise. She united with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail.
Davis, proud of her children and grandchildren, encouraged them in their studies and careers. She cared for them when they were sick and offered guidance and love.
Madeline Davis quietly departed this life in 1975, leaving a void that cannot be filled and long remembered by countless numbers whose lives she touched.
In October of 1914, Davis married the late Philip McDonald Davis, a 1911 graduate of Morehouse College. At the time of their marriage, her husband was principal of Slater School in Birmingham, Alabama for three years. In 1918, the union was blessed with there first child, Philip, Jr.
In 1920, the Davis family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where Mr. Davis taught Mathematics and Greek and was Business Manager at Morehouse College. His wife spent these years as a housewife and mother.
In 1923, another son, Griffith, was born, and five years later in 1928, a daughter, Dovie, completed the young family. It was also during theses years that Mrs. Davis completed her Master's Degree in Economics from Atlanta University. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board of Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church, serving from 1935-1939, while her husband was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
After her husband's death in 1939, Davis resumed her career, this time, not as a teacher, but as an adviser and counselor to young college women. That same year she became a housemother at the Atlanta University dormitory. In 1941, she went to Dillard University and in 1942 to Arkansas A. M. & N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At both of these schools she served as Acting Dean of Women. In 1944, she came to Washington, D. C., where she was appointed Dormitory Educational Staff Director at Howard University. During this period Davis studied guidance and counseling at Columbia University and at Catholic University. Respected and well-liked, Davis affectionately was referred to as "Mother Davis" by the Howard University students and graduates.
Davis retired from the Dean of Women's Staff at Howard University in 1957. She was finally free to travel and travel she did. She traveled extensively in Europe and Africa living with her son Griffith in Tunisia and her daughter, Dovie in Liberia. When she returned to the United States in 1960, she made her home in Birmingham, Alabama, after the death of a sister and her brother-in-law. She remained in Birmingham until 1964 when she returned to Washington, D. C., where she lived until her demise. She united with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail.
Davis, proud of her children and grandchildren, encouraged them in their studies and careers. She cared for them when they were sick and offered guidance and love.
Madeline Davis quietly departed this life in 1975, leaving a void that cannot be filled and long remembered by countless numbers whose lives she touched.
Born in Girard, Alabama, (now incorporated with Phenix City). She was the last of thirteen children and the twelfth daughter of the late Green Dukes and Chaney Smith. She received her education at Spelman Seminary, now Spelman College, in Atlanta, Georgia. She then attended Fisk University (1914) in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated with a B. A. degree in Education.
In October of 1914, Davis married the late Philip McDonald Davis, a 1911 graduate of Morehouse College. At the time of their marriage, her husband was principal of Slater School in Birmingham, Alabama for three years. In 1918, the union was blessed with there first child, Philip, Jr.
In 1920, the Davis family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where Mr. Davis taught Mathematics and Greek and was Business Manager at Morehouse College. His wife spent these years as a housewife and mother.
In 1923, another son, Griffith, was born, and five years later in 1928, a daughter, Dovie, completed the young family. It was also during theses years that Mrs. Davis completed her Master's Degree in Economics from Atlanta University. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board of Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church, serving from 1935-1939, while her husband was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
After her husband's death in 1939, Davis resumed her career, this time, not as a teacher, but as an adviser and counselor to young college women. That same year she became a housemother at the Atlanta University dormitory. In 1941, she went to Dillard University and in 1942 to Arkansas A. M. & N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At both of these schools she served as Acting Dean of Women. In 1944, she came to Washington, D. C., where she was appointed Dormitory Educational Staff Director at Howard University. During this period Davis studied guidance and counseling at Columbia University and at Catholic University. Respected and well-liked, Davis affectionately was referred to as "Mother Davis" by the Howard University students and graduates.
Davis retired from the Dean of Women's Staff at Howard University in 1957. She was finally free to travel and travel she did. She traveled extensively in Europe and Africa living with her son Griffith in Tunisia and her daughter, Dovie in Liberia. When she returned to the United States in 1960, she made her home in Birmingham, Alabama, after the death of a sister and her brother-in-law. She remained in Birmingham until 1964 when she returned to Washington, D. C., where she lived until her demise. She united with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail.
Davis, proud of her children and grandchildren, encouraged them in their studies and careers. She cared for them when they were sick and offered guidance and love.
Madeline Davis quietly departed this life in 1975, leaving a void that cannot be filled and long remembered by countless numbers whose lives she touched.
In October of 1914, Davis married the late Philip McDonald Davis, a 1911 graduate of Morehouse College. At the time of their marriage, her husband was principal of Slater School in Birmingham, Alabama for three years. In 1918, the union was blessed with there first child, Philip, Jr.
In 1920, the Davis family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where Mr. Davis taught Mathematics and Greek and was Business Manager at Morehouse College. His wife spent these years as a housewife and mother.
In 1923, another son, Griffith, was born, and five years later in 1928, a daughter, Dovie, completed the young family. It was also during theses years that Mrs. Davis completed her Master's Degree in Economics from Atlanta University. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board of Atlanta's Friendship Baptist Church, serving from 1935-1939, while her husband was Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
After her husband's death in 1939, Davis resumed her career, this time, not as a teacher, but as an adviser and counselor to young college women. That same year she became a housemother at the Atlanta University dormitory. In 1941, she went to Dillard University and in 1942 to Arkansas A. M. & N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. At both of these schools she served as Acting Dean of Women. In 1944, she came to Washington, D. C., where she was appointed Dormitory Educational Staff Director at Howard University. During this period Davis studied guidance and counseling at Columbia University and at Catholic University. Respected and well-liked, Davis affectionately was referred to as "Mother Davis" by the Howard University students and graduates.
Davis retired from the Dean of Women's Staff at Howard University in 1957. She was finally free to travel and travel she did. She traveled extensively in Europe and Africa living with her son Griffith in Tunisia and her daughter, Dovie in Liberia. When she returned to the United States in 1960, she made her home in Birmingham, Alabama, after the death of a sister and her brother-in-law. She remained in Birmingham until 1964 when she returned to Washington, D. C., where she lived until her demise. She united with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church and attended regularly until her health began to fail.
Davis, proud of her children and grandchildren, encouraged them in their studies and careers. She cared for them when they were sick and offered guidance and love.
Madeline Davis quietly departed this life in 1975, leaving a void that cannot be filled and long remembered by countless numbers whose lives she touched.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
