Billie Jane Davis

Billie Jane Shotts Davis was born on October 6, 1929, in Mendenhall, MS to William Joseph Shotts, Jr. and Rubenia Neal. She passed away peacefully at home February 12, 2026 at age 96.

After her father's untimely death in 1935, she and her mother lived briefly with her grandparents in Harrisville and then moved to Taylorsville where she would grow up.

She lived a multi-faceted life and learned to handle life as it happened.

She was a wife - She met her future husband, Harold Lee "Jack" Davis in violin class at Mississippi Southern College. She became a military wife when Jack was drafted to Korea after had only been married 6weeks. They would share 53 years together until his death in 2004.

She held various jobs - music teacher, social worker, fabric store manager, bookkeeper and mail carrier.

A mother - she and Jack raised 3 children - Michael Lee (Cindy) Davis, James Robert Davis, Wendy Claire (Paul) Cartwright.

She became Nana to grandchildren Greg (Leah) Davis, Jack (Alex) Davis, Mary Michael Davis (Jason) Makamson, Chase (Samantha) Davis, Cathryn Cartwright (Jamie) Leal, Will (Shannon) Davis & Tyler (Lauren) Cartwright; great-grandchildren Bryce (Hannah), Devin, Olivia, Eli & Lucy Davis, Sarah Hardin & William Makamson, Hal Davis, Jack & Phillip Davis, Cailyn Hodges, Gabe Ferguson & William Cartwright; great-great grandsons Fisher, Easton & Kayson Davis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, grandson Stephen Paul Cartwright and great-grandson John Parker Leal.

A musician - Billie began her musical career at age six singing with her uncle's band on the radio. Over the years she played and sang for dozens of weddings and funerals. She began as the church pianist and later organist at Antioch Baptist Church in 1951, and was still playing on her 96th birthday for a total of 75 years.

She sang with the Copiah County Associational choir and was a longtime member of the McDowell Music Club.

Genealogist - in the 1970s she embarked on the family history trail. By the time she passed it along, she had found Colonial ancestors back to 1660 in MD, several Revolutionary patriots as well as pioneers to Mississippi before statehood.

Through this lineage, Billie served as State President Colonial Dames XVII Century, State Officer in Miss State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, long-time Registrar for Thomas Lacy Chapter MSSCDXVIIC and Cherokee Rose Chapter NSDAR, Past President Mississippi Society Southern Dames of America and was a member of the Family Research Association, US Daughters of 1812, First Families of Mississippi and the Copiah County Historical Society.

A Traveler - she and Jack traveled to numerous states to attend National Guard Enlisted Association conferences, where she served on National Committees and Past President of the Mississippi NCO Auxiliary.

She and her Homemaker friends were active in the Extension Homemakers State Council and served as the Copiah County President and attended several Associated Country Women of the World conferences and toured several foreign countries.

We would like to express our appreciation to Compassus Hospice, especially to Jessica, for their special care and dignity.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Mary Hennington, 11038 Barlow Rd, Hazlehurst, MS 39083; McDowell Music Club Scholarship Fund c/o Nixi Davis, 2070 Hwy 472, Hazlehurst, MS 39083; Gideon's International, PO Box 442, Hazlehurst, MS 39083, or a charity of your choice.

If ordering flowers, we recommend calling one of our local florists directly:

Crystal Springs

Wright's Florist 601-892-2891

Clear Creek Flowers 601-892-0070

Hazlehurst

Five 54 Floral 601-894-5524

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