Jill Claire Davidson

Jill Claire Davidson died May 9, 2024 in Vero Beach, Florida. The cause was dementia. Jill was born in Rifle, Colorado on March 31, 1954. After moving to California and living there three years, her father was transferred to Aberdeen, MS in 1958. Jill, a great swimmer, was on the Aberdeen Swim Team for 8 years winning numerous medals. Her stroke specialty was the butterfly.She inherited her love of water from her mother Charleen Davidson, who taught swimming lessons to many Aberdeen children as well as being their beloved kindergarten teacher.

Jill graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1972 and was a cheerleader and member of the tennis team. After attending several colleges including Ole Miss where she was a Kappa Delta, she graduated from Mississippi State College for Women with a BS in 1977. In 1984 she received a Masters in Science from the University of Memphis. Jill worked for Humko and Proctor and Gamble in Memphis. She transferred to Cincinnati with P & G working there and in Italy.

Yet Jill's dream was always to live in Florida near the water, and in the '90's she moved to the Keys. She later moved north and worked for the City of Vero Beach in water quality control from 2000-2006. In 2004 she married Steve Madeline of Vero Beach. She returned to college earning a Masters in Biology and taught briefly at a community college. Although she and Steve divorced after about ten years, these were some of the happiest of Jill's life, living on the beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. They remained friends after the divorce, and he gave her love and support throughout the rest of her life.

Jill was a people person, fun-loving, and usually the soul of the party. She was short in statue but had an irresistible smile that made her larger than life. Growing up in a family surrounded by animals, she was never without a cat. Puff Ball was a Persian that was special to Jill for many years.

She was not a gardener but loved butterflies and at the summer home she had with Steve in North Carolina, she had a vast butterfly garden that attracted thousands.

But, more than anything, Jill was always drawn to the water: snorkeling, water skiing, swimming with dolphins on vacation, taking advanced swimming lessons in her fifties to improve her performance. She looked forward to when her nephews visited - having fun with them on the beach and in the ocean-usually on a boogie board. She was generous and kind. Always giving of herself, she was full of life. She will be in our hearts forever.

Jill is survived by her brother Hunter Davidson (Debbie) of Amarillo and sister Leigh Fraser of Memphis and four nephews: Rhitt Fraser of Howard, CO;Ben Davidson of Jacksonville, FL;Matt Davidson of Baton Rouge, LA; and Cody Davidson of Senatobia, MS. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Davidson of Tupelo and her mother Charleen Davidson of Aberdeen and Memphis. Charleen was in a nursing home in Vero Beach from 2001-2006. Jill was the most wonderful caretaker, visiting her mother daily at lunch and providing unlimited love and support. No services are planned at this date. Memorial contributions to the organization of your choice.