Lynda Davis

Linda Louise Palmer Byrd Davis was the epitome of selfless motherhood. She was born on June 25, 1950 in Sparta, Georgia. She was the fifth child of John Henry and Maudine James Palmer. The family flourished under the watchful eye of their paternal grandfather Johnny Palmer. The Palmer family had lived in Sparta since before the Civil War. In the mid-1950s, the family moved to Atlanta to be closer to other Palmer Family members who had relocated during the early 1900s.
John Henry was a master stone and brick mason – the most highly skilled of all of his brothers. It was said that he was the handsomest of them as well. However upon the untimely death of Maudine when Linda was 3 years old, a few of the children moved in with other family members. This spirit was a common practice when any Palmer Family matriarch passed.
Linda subsequently moved to live with her second cousin Zeda Byrd whose own mother had died when she was a young child. Linda was adopted by Monroe and Zeda and lived her middle childhood years in a "four-parent" household, consisting of Zeda's sister Mildred Euretha Stanley, her husband William Stanley, and their children Zeda Ann and Billy. Although she did not physically live with her siblings, they visited frequently in Atlanta and during summer visits to Sparta. Her sister Delores (Bay) actually attended the same high school along with others who were their first cousins. The family remains close to this day.
At the Charles L. Harper High School, Linda "Lynda" was among the most popular students with the boys and girls alike. This was owing to her sweet and collegial manner, naturally good looks, warmth, and outgoing personality. Linda was generous, loving, and made friends very easily. She was a teen model, a debutante, an accomplished dancer, and perpetual teacher's pet. Upon graduating C.L. Harper High School, she matriculated at Morris Brown College where she was flag bearer with the Marching Wolverines..'the best band in the land.' Active in church, Lynda was baptized by Rev. Dr. Emory Searcy at Mount Zion 2nd Baptist Church. Later in life she joined the True Church of the Living Faith under Pastor Samuel Christian.
At the end of her freshman year, Lynda married John W. Davis Jr. whom she had dated at Harper High. The couple moved to Brooklyn, New York, near John's family. The couple's first child Lezeda died in her infancy. The family eventually returned to Atlanta where Lynda worked in banking and later in life with the Security Division at Morris Brown College. John pursued his career in visual arts and engineering drafting.
The Davis Family was blessed with four more children: Kim, John "Man", Raeshawn, and Lisa. The Davis children were active, curious, and free spirited. They were consistently showered with love and fiscal support from Lynda. She gave them all that she had from the moment of their births until the time of her passing. With her limited resources, she even provided for their security upon her death.
Lynda was diagnosed with sickle cell early in her life, but In spite of her constant discomfort, she was uplifted and derived gratification from the happiness of her children.
Lynda was preceded in death by her husband John Wesley Davis, Jr.; parents John Henry and Maudine Palmer; adopted parents Monroe and Zeda Byrd; children Lyzeda Davis, John W. Davis, III and Lisa Sydelle Davis; sisters Miriam Palmer Moore, Lorraine Palmer and Delores Ann Palmer; and brother Harvey Palmer (Diane).
She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters Kim Davis and Raeshawn Davis; sister Gwendolyn Palmer Carter (Tony); grandchildren Eros Davis, Najee Davis, Wesley Solomon, Jonathan Davis, Robin Calhoun, Javel Hardnett (Dayiah Littlejohn-Hardnett), John Davis (Anna), Lynn Davis, Quinton Lester, London Davis and Teea Davis; great-grandchildren Jayce, Onyx, Eros Jr., Najee Jr., Kenzo, John Wesley Jr., Nola and Ayla; close girlfriends Peaches, Peggy and Stephanie; and, a host of cousins, family and friends.
Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the life of this saintly woman of faith who provided her family with the quintessential example of True Motherhood!