Elinor Anne Davis

1969 - 2022

Elinor Anne Davis
March 3, 1969 - February 7, 2022
Raleigh, North Carolina - Beach or mountains? "Both!" Anne would have said in normal times. "Why would you have to pick one over the other?" Then she would have laughed.
But these aren't normal times. Elinor Anne Davis – and her good-natured spirit, infectious laugh, and perfect smile – left us on February 7, 2022 from a rare, aggressive cancer. As with everything Anne did in life, she controlled her own fate and made her own decisions in death.
Anne made the decision to spend her last months with the people she loved most, sometimes doing mosaic crafts at her Raleigh home, sometimes hanging out in beautiful West Jefferson, but mostly sitting on decks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. And that made sense. Although Anne's first and last years were spent in Raleigh where multiple generations of family were always within reach, some of her happiest memories were with that family at her Bigmama's house in Scotland Neck, and on trips to John's Cottage at Indian Beach. Morehead City was her home during some of her formative childhood years, where she created memories with family, big sisters, and special friends. As a result, Anne grew up with a love and appreciation for the beach, the water, the ocean air… oh, and the seafood.
Her adventurous spirit and love of life drove Anne to travel and explore whenever possible. Her 25-plus year career in the pharmaceutical industry allowed her to mix her business travel with personal adventures, as did her stint teaching English as a second language in Taiwan. She loved traveling all over the world, and for many years her new year's resolution was a trip to a new destination.
Anne embraced her southern heritage and all the delicious flavors that came with it. She combined that with her love of cuisine from the places she visited, and those places she just dreamed about visiting. At home in the kitchen, she loved cooking for others. "You have to try it," she'd encourage people to be bold. And she'd remind them to save some of whatever it was for Mama or the stray kittens living under the house next door.
Anne was smart, driven, generous. Indeed, she was so many things; but most importantly she was a loving aunt, daughter, sister, and friend. Anne lit up every time her niece Summer – Anne's favorite person in the world – walked into a room. Her sister Martha Cole was Anne's muse for all things creative, while sister Laura Beth was the practical one who partnered with Anne on keeping family traditions alive. Mary Eliza – Mama to Anne – was as proud of Anne as Anne was devoted to her. Friends admired her...how could someone so wise also be so fun?
Anne is predeceased by her father, Ronald Ransom Davis. She is survived by way too many people because she was only 52. Among those family members who will miss her most are her mother Mary Eliza Davis of Raleigh, sister Laura Elizabeth Curtis and husband Rob Curtis of Chapel Hill, sister Martha Cole Allen of Raleigh, and her niece Summer Elizabeth Allen and fiancé Mark Bacigalupo of Raleigh.
Before passing, Anne said not to send flowers or bring a ham in her honor. Instead, she asked that you donate to Fair Fight (www.fairfight.com) to help ensure democracy for all Americans. "Let every person's vote count." Or, if you'd rather honor the kind and considerate employees at Wake County's Transitions LifeCare Hospice (www.transitionslifecare.org) that would be great too.
The family is planning a private beachside memorial in the spring.