Lessie Davison

DAVISON, LESSIE HALL

LANG BUSBEE , former co-

owner of the Homestead Inn in Greenwich, CT, passed away July 16, 2010, at her home on Johns Island, Vero Beach, FL, after a long illness.

Lessie turned the formerly run-down Homestead Inn into a New York Times 3-star restaurant and leading country inn after purchasing the property, with her husband, Charles Hamilton Davison, in 1977. The Homestead was twice named Best Inn in America, was featured in a radio campaign for the American Express Card, spotlighted in a 30-minute Travel Channel special, and written up in Fortune, Forbes, and Architectural Digest, among other publications.

A Florida native, Lessie lived in St. Petersburg, Florida until her marriage on August 16, 1958. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School, class of 1947, where she was named in the yearbook as "Most Likely to Succeed," and then from Florida State University in 1951, with a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Library Science. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority while at FSU, and worked as librarian at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York.

Lessie was President of the Providence Junior League and held several leadership positions in the Chicago Junior League. She was a member of the Colonial Dames and a Daughter of the Confederacy. She was also listed in Who's Who of America, and was a Member of the Hotel Owners and Inns of America

Lessie was a member or former member of Indian Hill Club and Glenview Club in Winnetka, IL, The Belle Haven Club and Round Hill Club in Greenwich, CT, The Dunes Club in Narragansett, RI, and The Johns Island Club, Vero Beach, FL.

A voracious reader, accomplished chef, avid bridge player, and highly skilled crossword puzzler, her friendships in St. Petersburg, Rhode Island, Chicago and Vero Beach were legion, as was her passion for photo safaris to Africa, which she enjoyed on 7 different occasions.

She and her husband, Charles Hamilton Davison, who died in 2000, were interred together at Royal Palm Cemetery on July 23rd in St. Petersburg, Fl. Charlie was formerly Deputy Chairman of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., Vice Chairman of Smith Barney, and Chairman and owner of Paramount Cards in Pawtucket, RI. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College and received an MBA from NYU. Charlie was very active on a number of civic & educational boards including a Trustee of Kenyon College, on the board of Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, Chairman of United Charities of Chicago, Board of the New York City Ballet, and the City Center of New York.

Lessie is survived by her step-brother Fred Wade and wife Gail of Klamath Falls, Oregon, sons (and their wives) C. Hamilton Davison (and Dotsy Davison) of Providence, RI, J. Lang Davison (and M.J. Davison) of Portland, Oregon, and Andrew B. Davison (and Brooke H. Davison) of Boulder, Colorado. Grandchildren Carter, William, and, Laura Davison of Providence, RI. Kiersten and Keilan Davison, of Portland, OR. Miller, Chase, and Lang Davison, of Boulder, CO, nephew Brooks H. Davison of New York, New York, niece Laurie Davison of Gainesville, Florida, and sister-in-law Jacqueline Davison of Gainesville, Florida.

A Memorial Service is planned for November 13th at 11:00 am at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Central Congregational Church in Providence, Rhode Island.