Roxanne Gilbert Davis

Roxanne Gilbert Davis, age 72, retired former special representative for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, passed into eternity at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on the morning of Saturday, July 19, following a long illness. Roxanne was born on April 15, 1936, in the Town of Mattoon, IL to the late Henry Knox Gilbert and Della Pecola Derrickson. She attended Mattoon grade school and graduated from Mattoon High School in 1957. In 1963 Roxanne left Mattoon for Chicago, then traveled to New York where she became a fashion model. In New York she entered and won the Mrs. Beaux Arts Beauty Contest in 1964. She was also selected as Mrs. Kosher Queen in March of 1964 from over a thousand contestants. She met countless celebrities including Sidney Poitier, Johnny Mathis and Sammy Davis Jr. in her travels as a model, and modeled for Schaefer Beer for several years. Roxanne moved back to Chicago, IL and became a nurse after two years of nursing school at Cook County Hospital. It was there that she met her husband of 43 years, Dr. John B. Davis. They were married in 1965 in Chicago, and had two children, Aquelah Pamela Davis and Dr. John Gilbert Davis, who were the center of her life. In 1976 she started working for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, first as a beauty advisor, then as a special representative at Marshall Fields for over 25 years. Roxanne is survived by her husband of 43 years Dr. John B. Davis, her daughter Aquelah Pamela Davis, and her son Dr. John Gilbert Davis. Roxanne is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless extended family. Visitation for Roxanne Gilbert Davis will be held in Chicago at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 24, at Cage Memorial Chapel, at 7651 S. Jeffrey Blvd., Chicago, IL, followed by Funeral Services at 11 a.m. Visitation in Mattoon, IL will be held on Friday, July 25, at Schilling's Funeral Home at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Dodge Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of Roxanne Gilbert Davis to the Salvation Army.