Margaret Davis

Margaret W. Davis SUMTER - Dr. Margaret W. Davis, wife of the late Reynolds E. (R.E.) Davis and a nationally and internationally known educator, died at her home on Monday September 10, 2018. She leaves a rich legacy of service to her beloved Sumter Community. Her death ends a generational legacy. She was born the 4th child of Deacon Thomas Boston (TB) Wright and Dr. Marion (Ms. Mae) W. McLester. She also had a brother and sister from her father's previous marriage. The hallmark of her life was service to children, educators, and missions through her local Church, Sumter County and the State of South Carolina. She practiced treating people with fairness and honesty regardless of race, socio-economic status, or any other forms of human diversity. Life for Dr. Davis was a classroom and until the end of life, she found a way to teach principles of integrity, responsibility, dependability, and the way to present one's self with dignity and class. Dr. Margaret W. Davis remains, in spirit, a trailblazer who taught that excellence and humility are not only true examples of God's love, they are demonstrations of success. Her teaching career was in elementary Language Arts and Reading. It began at the age 19 at Rembert Memorial School in Rembert, SC. When this school closed, she taught at Ebenezer High School, and ended her classroom teaching in Public Education at Eastern High School (now, R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy), which is named after her late husband. She was an epistle of excellence as she broke the color lines as the "first black" in one role or another. This started when she was hired in Central Administration as Reading Coordinator for Sumter School District Number Two; she was the first African American female to chair the school board of School District Number 17. In the early '90" s as "first Black" to chair the Pee Dee Chapter of the International Reading Association, she was invited by the President of the International Reading Association to present workshops at their international conference in Sweden. She chose not to go alone and took the first multiracial group of reading educators from that Chapter with her. As an active National Alumnus and later administrator at Morris College, she chaired the committee that developed the college's General Studies curriculum and later became the first chairperson of that department. For her lifetime of devotion and service to Morris College and the community at-large, she was awarded the Doctorate of Humane letters in 1998. In the field of missions, Dr. Davis was the first woman to become a trustee at her beloved church, Rafting Creek Baptist Church which she later chaired and was awarded the honor of Chairperson Emeritus on her 90th birthday. Her work in the Wateree Baptist Association, Lower Division continued in leadership. She was the first woman Trustee Chair in this Association. Following in the legacy of her Mother, Dr. McLester, she became Corresponding Secretary of the Women's Division of the South Carolina State Baptist Education and Missionary Convention. Dr. Davis was very active in civic and social affiliations. As a dedicated member of the Pi Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., she was its longest serving President. Her commitment to her Sorority led her to join her Soros Mrs. Pearl P. Brown and Dr. Beatrice G. Sanders in securing the Zeta House in Sumter, South Carolina for their chapter. She worked on committees in many capacities at the National level. Her civic and social affiliations were many to include, The National Council of Negro Women, The NAACP, the North Main Street Club, and the Garden Club and board member of the Santee Lynches Association. Her love for playing Bridge meant joining every Bridge Club she could in Sumter. She was awarded many awards of excellence during her lifetime to include her induction into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame. Dr. Davis' was born two months after the death of her father and raised on a farm where she picked over a bale of cotton every three days with her mother until she moved to Sumter to live with Mrs. Eloise Rayford in order to attend Lincoln High School and then, Morris College. Though she received a Master's Degree from Temple University, Philadelphia PA, Advanced Certifications from the University of South Carolina, and a Leadership South Carolina Fellow, her love for Morris College remained most dear to her heart. Remembering the door that was opened for her through Mrs. Rayford, Dr. Davis' home was opened to many young people who needed a place to stay when they came to Morris College. She was known to visit families of young people she felt she could help directly and encourage their parents to allow them to live with her husband and her until they could find a job and get on their feet while attending Morris. The greatest among her attributes of love to others was the love she demonstrated in word and deed to her family. No matter when the need arrived or how big the request, this lady found time to serve. She was the consistent giver. She was known to spend every weekend with her aging mother when she began to fail; to have daily visits to the nursing home when her brother was there; and to hold 12 hour-a-day- stints in the hospital when her daughter was critically ill. Her generosity to provide all kinds of assistances was done even if the need arose in the midst of her other duties. Somehow, she always had time to spare for her family. Much of her teaching was provided through poetry. At the annual Christmas Eve family gather, she always ended our sessions with "T'was the Night Before Christmas." There are three generations of family who can characterize her as our Torch-bearer of strict demand for respecting self and others. The anonymous poet who wrote "Hold High the Torch" may have known her. She believed in letting her light shine and expected the same others. Dr. Davis' service to humanity will be remembered for generations. Her strict code of excellence,total love, and dedication to her family will remain deeply ingrained in the heart of her beloved her daughter, Rev. Dr. Thomasina M. Portis, her grandsons Verenander LF "Randy" (Denise) Portis, III, Vernard LR "Ronnie" (Cynthia) Portis, Sr., and posthumously, her granddaughter Tamarinice M. Portis-Williams (Anthony); her sister-in-law, Mrs. Myrtle H. Wright, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, her surrogate daughters, Mrs. Gloria R. Felder and Mrs. Nancy W. (Odell) Williams, and countless friends; especially her life-long friend Mrs. Mamie Jackson. In lieu of Flowers the family asks that donations be sent to the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Organization, 4124 Clemson Boulevard, Clemson, South Carolina 29621, in her honor. Life celebrations include: The Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., Sorority Omega Service 6 p.m. and Eulogistic Memoriam 7 - 9, O. R. Reuben Chapel, Morris College, Friday, Sept 21, 2018 Funeral Service Rafting Creek Baptist Church Hwy 261 North, Rembert, SC -12 noon Saturday Sept 22, 2018 with Pastor Melvin Mack, celebrant and the Reverend Dr. Thomasina M. Portis, officiant. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park. Job's Mortuary, Inc., 312 S. Main Street is in charge of arrangements. Online memorials may be sent to the family at: jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at: www.jobsmortuary.net.