Florence Murphy Davis

1932 - 2025

Florence "Sister" Murphy Davis, of Bloomingdale, Ga, passed away on November 1, 2025 at the age of 93. She was born on September 21, 1932, in Guyton, GA to Vance Burdette and Florence LaRue Kight Murphy. She was the oldest daughter of the 10 surviving adult children, hence the nickname, "Sister". Florence graduated from Guyton High School where she excelled academically and enjoyed her passion in sports. After playing basketball in the 7th grade on the high school team, Florence later earned the top spot of Captain of the basketball team her Senior Year. Fifty-seven years later in 2007, Florence would be inducted into the Effingham County, Ga Athletic Hall of Fame. Florence enjoyed a high school job as a "mixologist" for the Guyton Drug Store at a time when it was not uncommon to have a good old fashioned soda pop created while waiting for the medicine to be compounded. Medicine could also be delivered, so Mom's brother, Vance "Son" Murphy took her out on the Old River Road and taught her how to drive their Father's Model A car which is still in the family today. Today the "old drug store" is still a landmark in Guyton, Ga which Mom enjoyed telling us stories about her time working there and delivering the orders in an "English Ford car". On February 22, 1953, Florence eloped to Ridgeland, SC with the love of her life, Bennie Fleming Davis, after a weekend proposal and they started a 53-year journey together. As newlyweds, they began her new life in Chicago, Illinois where she transferred from Southern Bell to Illinois Bell as a Switchboard Operator. As they returned to Savannah, Ga a few years later, Florence worked at Liberty Bank before settling in as a full-time Mother and homemaker. Florence had a deep passion for her family and home. Until the age of 91, she was very insistent on maintaining her own lawn and later was "passionate" on her children maintaining her lawn. She was a member of the Bloomingdale First Baptist Church. Here she loved playing in the former church softball league. Florence was also a member of the Republican Party where she volunteered locally during several Presidential and Congressional Campaigns. She is survived by her five devoted children, Johnny Marion Davis of Bloomingdale, GA, Martha LaRue Grovenstein (David) of Brooklet, GA, James Fleming Davis (Anna) of Statesboro, GA. Angela Davis of Tybee Island, GA and Joseph Franklin Davis (Heidi) of Thomasville, GA and six amazing grandchildren, Alex Grovenstein (Angela) of Brooklet, GA, Samantha Grovenstein of Statesboro, GA, Benjamin Grovenstein (Kaitlyn) of Guyton, GA, Matthew Davis (Lila) of Statesboro, GA, Colin Davis of Thomasville, GA, Eli Davis of Statesboro, GA. and two great-grandsons, Davis and Murphy Grovenstein of Brooklet, GA . She also leaves behind her youngest sister and brother, Linda "Sang" Murphy Harn of Daisy, GA and Pat Murphy (Barbara) of Guyton, GA , as well as many nieces and nephews. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Fleming Davis, her parents, Burdette and LaRue Murphy, brothers, Richard Murphy, John Vernon "Pete" Murphy, Carlton Murphy, Vance "Son" Murphy, and James "Jim" Murphy and sisters, Annette "Neg" Murphy Altman, and Leona "Monk" Murphy Harn and Sister-in-law's Willa Davis Johnson of Wallaceville, Ga and Frankie Davis Moreland of Faulkville, Ga. The visitation will be on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. a the funeral home. The graveside funeral and burial will be on Monday, November 3, 2025 at 2 p.m. at Guyton Cemetery. The grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as the pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Breast Cancer Foundation, breatcancer.org or 40 East Montgomery Avenue, 4th Floor, Ardmore, PA 19003, an organization the family strongly supports as our mother was a 21-year Breast Cancer Survivor until the recent Metastatic Breast Cancer diagnosis on September 24, 2025. Thanks and appreciation to her Oncologist, Dr. George Negrea and the Hospice of Savannah, home care staff that assisted with Mom's care Patti, Wendy, Ginger, Michelle, and Debbie. To her wonderful neighbors that always "kept a watchful eye out" for Mom. Thank you and know she loved and appreciated you all.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes - WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL - 901 West Highway 80 - Pooler, Georgia (912) 748-2444