Gertie Mae Davis

Published 6:00 am Friday, January 12, 2018

JEANERETTE — A Celebration of life service for Ms. Gertie Mae Davis, 85, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018, at St. Peter United Methodist Church, 986 St. Peter St. Jeanerette, with Pastor Darlene Moore officiating.

Interment will follow in the St. Peter Church Cemetery.

Visitation will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the church until the commencement of the services. 

Gertie was born on Tuesday, April 26, 1932, to the union of the late Joseph  Milton Davis Sr. and Elizabeth Barabin Davis in Patoutville, the youngest of five siblings and the only girl. She was reared in a Christian home by her mother where she attended St. Peter United Methodist Church and was a lifelong member.  

Gertie received her formal education in the schools of St. Mary and Iberia parishes. After graduating from Jeanerette Negro High School in 1950, she went on to attend Prairie View A&M University where she attained her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1954. She furthered her education and received her Master’s Degree in education from Southern University. She returned home and her career as an educator began in the Four Corners community at Thomas Gibbs Elementary School. She then taught at Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette and Park Avenue High School in Franklin. Her excellency as an educator then afforded her the opportunity as an instructor at Southern University A&M university in Baton Rouge in 1964. She furthered her studies and received her Master’s Degree in education from Southern University. After 45 years of service she retired in 2009, having dedicated over 50 years investing in the lives of today’s students. 

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her four brothers, Joseph Milton (Elvena) Davis Sr., James Edwin Davis, Julious Malcolm (Leona) Davis Sr.  and Melvin Steven (Helen) Davis; four nephews, Joseph “Tooney” Milton Davis Jr., James Edwin Davis, Julious Malcolm Davis Jr. and Morris Gaddison; and one niece, Doris Gaddison. 

Gertie peacefully passed to eternal rest on Saturday, January 6, 2018, in Franklin following a brief illness.

Gertie’s legacy will live on in the hearts of her family who include her nieces and nephews, Josephine (Murphy) Davis-Foster of Sacramento, California, Michael Davis (longtime caregiver) and Eva (Oswald) Davis-Rollins, all of Four Corners, Phyllis Davis-Kemper, Barbara Davis, Delphine Davis and Donzell Davis, all of Port Arthur, Texas, Leroy (Debbie) Davis of Abilene, Texas, Roland (Loris) Cerf of Baker and Shelia Davis and Chandra Houston, both of Atlanta, Georgia, Ruth Davis of New Iberia and Ethel Davis of Pearland, Texas; her caregivers Elizabeth Jackson, Melvena Roher and Pomona Roberson; and a host of great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, cousins and her Southern University Family.

View the obituary and sign the guest book online at www.carneyfuneralhome.net.

Carney Funeral Home, 602 North Pierce Street, Lafayette, LA, 235-9789, is in charge of arrangements.