Ava Mildred Finnie Davis was born June 30, 1910 to Lillie Dedmon Finnie and Lewis Finnie in Commerce, TX. She was the youngest of five children (3 brothers and a sister). Her parents and all brothers and sister have preceded her in death. Though her given name is Ava, she soon became known to all as Mildred.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was united with the New Hope Baptist Church of Greenville, TX before moving to Kansas City, Kansas and uniting with Olivet Institutional Baptist Church where she has been a faithful and loyal member and worker for over 50 years. She served dutifully in the Women's Missionary Dept., Baptist Training Union and the Sunday School for many years. She has encouraged and counseled many young people spiritually.
She attended Prep School and two years of college at Langston University in Langston, OK. In those days you could teach school in Texas with 2 years of college and she taught school at a small country school. She married Grady L. Davis (now deceased) in Paris, TX and they moved to Kansas City in the early 40's. She worked at the old munitions plant in the Fairfax Industrial District during the war and after the war she began to work for well-to-do families in Johnson County cleaning and cooking. They soon discovered she was a superior cook and began to use her skills in the kitchen for their entertaining. In 1945 she and Grady bought their first home at 615 Freeman Ave. where she resided for over 60 years. She was childless and when a large family moved next door to her in 1954 she befriended Joyce and took her under her wings making her clothes and encouraging her in her endeavors. Joyce was only 12 years old and loved going next door where she would regale her with stories of her youth and life. She was not only a fun person but also a wise mentor.
In the late 50's she began to work for the IRS during tax season. Eventually she was hired full time at Social Security where she retired after over 20 years of service.
She belonged to many community organizations including the Turtle Hill Homeowners Assoc. which was organized in her livingroom.
This organization was instrumental in the redevelopement of the Turtle Hill area which now has many new homes. She was also a long-time member of the now inactive L'Esprit Social Club and when meetings were held in her home, all members attended mainly because they knew the food and company would be excellent.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a foster daughter, Joyce Dickens, who has lovingly and faithfully cared for her, Joyce's husband, Herbert Dickens, Sr., two foster grandchildren, LeAndra Holliday, Kansas City, KS and Herbert Dickens, Jr., Wichita, KS; 5 foster great grandsons; one cousin, Clovice Ward, Dallas, TX and a host of friends and church family.
Visitation 9-11:00am Monday 10-14-13 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 2013 North 7th Street, Kansas City, KS. Religious service 11:00am at the church. Burial Highland Park cemetery Kansas City, KS
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She accepted Christ at an early age and was united with the New Hope Baptist Church of Greenville, TX before moving to Kansas City, Kansas and uniting with Olivet Institutional Baptist Church where she has been a faithful and loyal member and worker for over 50 years. She served dutifully in the Women's Missionary Dept., Baptist Training Union and the Sunday School for many years. She has encouraged and counseled many young people spiritually.
She attended Prep School and two years of college at Langston University in Langston, OK. In those days you could teach school in Texas with 2 years of college and she taught school at a small country school. She married Grady L. Davis (now deceased) in Paris, TX and they moved to Kansas City in the early 40's. She worked at the old munitions plant in the Fairfax Industrial District during the war and after the war she began to work for well-to-do families in Johnson County cleaning and cooking. They soon discovered she was a superior cook and began to use her skills in the kitchen for their entertaining. In 1945 she and Grady bought their first home at 615 Freeman Ave. where she resided for over 60 years. She was childless and when a large family moved next door to her in 1954 she befriended Joyce and took her under her wings making her clothes and encouraging her in her endeavors. Joyce was only 12 years old and loved going next door where she would regale her with stories of her youth and life. She was not only a fun person but also a wise mentor.
In the late 50's she began to work for the IRS during tax season. Eventually she was hired full time at Social Security where she retired after over 20 years of service.
She belonged to many community organizations including the Turtle Hill Homeowners Assoc. which was organized in her livingroom.
This organization was instrumental in the redevelopement of the Turtle Hill area which now has many new homes. She was also a long-time member of the now inactive L'Esprit Social Club and when meetings were held in her home, all members attended mainly because they knew the food and company would be excellent.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a foster daughter, Joyce Dickens, who has lovingly and faithfully cared for her, Joyce's husband, Herbert Dickens, Sr., two foster grandchildren, LeAndra Holliday, Kansas City, KS and Herbert Dickens, Jr., Wichita, KS; 5 foster great grandsons; one cousin, Clovice Ward, Dallas, TX and a host of friends and church family.
Visitation 9-11:00am Monday 10-14-13 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 2013 North 7th Street, Kansas City, KS. Religious service 11:00am at the church. Burial Highland Park cemetery Kansas City, KS
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If you add links or images to this memorial, will you please use "Edit" (upper right corner) to let me know? Thank you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ava Mildred Finnie Davis was born June 30, 1910 to Lillie Dedmon Finnie and Lewis Finnie in Commerce, TX. She was the youngest of five children (3 brothers and a sister). Her parents and all brothers and sister have preceded her in death. Though her given name is Ava, she soon became known to all as Mildred.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was united with the New Hope Baptist Church of Greenville, TX before moving to Kansas City, Kansas and uniting with Olivet Institutional Baptist Church where she has been a faithful and loyal member and worker for over 50 years. She served dutifully in the Women's Missionary Dept., Baptist Training Union and the Sunday School for many years. She has encouraged and counseled many young people spiritually.
She attended Prep School and two years of college at Langston University in Langston, OK. In those days you could teach school in Texas with 2 years of college and she taught school at a small country school. She married Grady L. Davis (now deceased) in Paris, TX and they moved to Kansas City in the early 40's. She worked at the old munitions plant in the Fairfax Industrial District during the war and after the war she began to work for well-to-do families in Johnson County cleaning and cooking. They soon discovered she was a superior cook and began to use her skills in the kitchen for their entertaining. In 1945 she and Grady bought their first home at 615 Freeman Ave. where she resided for over 60 years. She was childless and when a large family moved next door to her in 1954 she befriended Joyce and took her under her wings making her clothes and encouraging her in her endeavors. Joyce was only 12 years old and loved going next door where she would regale her with stories of her youth and life. She was not only a fun person but also a wise mentor.
In the late 50's she began to work for the IRS during tax season. Eventually she was hired full time at Social Security where she retired after over 20 years of service.
She belonged to many community organizations including the Turtle Hill Homeowners Assoc. which was organized in her livingroom.
This organization was instrumental in the redevelopement of the Turtle Hill area which now has many new homes. She was also a long-time member of the now inactive L'Esprit Social Club and when meetings were held in her home, all members attended mainly because they knew the food and company would be excellent.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a foster daughter, Joyce Dickens, who has lovingly and faithfully cared for her, Joyce's husband, Herbert Dickens, Sr., two foster grandchildren, LeAndra Holliday, Kansas City, KS and Herbert Dickens, Jr., Wichita, KS; 5 foster great grandsons; one cousin, Clovice Ward, Dallas, TX and a host of friends and church family.
Visitation 9-11:00am Monday 10-14-13 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 2013 North 7th Street, Kansas City, KS. Religious service 11:00am at the church. Burial Highland Park cemetery Kansas City, KS
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If you add links or images to this memorial, will you please use "Edit" (upper right corner) to let me know? Thank you.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She accepted Christ at an early age and was united with the New Hope Baptist Church of Greenville, TX before moving to Kansas City, Kansas and uniting with Olivet Institutional Baptist Church where she has been a faithful and loyal member and worker for over 50 years. She served dutifully in the Women's Missionary Dept., Baptist Training Union and the Sunday School for many years. She has encouraged and counseled many young people spiritually.
She attended Prep School and two years of college at Langston University in Langston, OK. In those days you could teach school in Texas with 2 years of college and she taught school at a small country school. She married Grady L. Davis (now deceased) in Paris, TX and they moved to Kansas City in the early 40's. She worked at the old munitions plant in the Fairfax Industrial District during the war and after the war she began to work for well-to-do families in Johnson County cleaning and cooking. They soon discovered she was a superior cook and began to use her skills in the kitchen for their entertaining. In 1945 she and Grady bought their first home at 615 Freeman Ave. where she resided for over 60 years. She was childless and when a large family moved next door to her in 1954 she befriended Joyce and took her under her wings making her clothes and encouraging her in her endeavors. Joyce was only 12 years old and loved going next door where she would regale her with stories of her youth and life. She was not only a fun person but also a wise mentor.
In the late 50's she began to work for the IRS during tax season. Eventually she was hired full time at Social Security where she retired after over 20 years of service.
She belonged to many community organizations including the Turtle Hill Homeowners Assoc. which was organized in her livingroom.
This organization was instrumental in the redevelopement of the Turtle Hill area which now has many new homes. She was also a long-time member of the now inactive L'Esprit Social Club and when meetings were held in her home, all members attended mainly because they knew the food and company would be excellent.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a foster daughter, Joyce Dickens, who has lovingly and faithfully cared for her, Joyce's husband, Herbert Dickens, Sr., two foster grandchildren, LeAndra Holliday, Kansas City, KS and Herbert Dickens, Jr., Wichita, KS; 5 foster great grandsons; one cousin, Clovice Ward, Dallas, TX and a host of friends and church family.
Visitation 9-11:00am Monday 10-14-13 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 2013 North 7th Street, Kansas City, KS. Religious service 11:00am at the church. Burial Highland Park cemetery Kansas City, KS
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If you add links or images to this memorial, will you please use "Edit" (upper right corner) to let me know? Thank you.
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