Frederica Abbott "Fredi" Davis

On March 7, 2006, Frederica Abbott "Fredi" Davis died suddenly at her home in Charlottesville, from a pulmonary embolism. She was 72 years old. Mrs. Davis was a 7th grade English teacher at Buford Middle School in Charlottesville. Beloved by her teaching colleagues, she inspired a generation of students to do great things as readers and creative writers and took special pride in the achievements of her least gifted students, whose efforts frequently surprised even themselves. She cared deeply and wrote thoughtfully about the role of public schools in Charlottesville and retired from Buford in 1999 after 25 years of service. Fredi Davis was born in New York City on November 2, 1933, to F. Everett Abbott (later an Episcopal minister at Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville) and Frances Reyburn. The second of four children, Fredi grew up in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Panama. She loved reading, horses and summer trips to Camp Noconomo, her family's rustic camp in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. She attended Wellesley College, where she majored in Philosophy and graduated in 1955. Two years later, she obtained a Master's Degree in Education at Temple University. In June 1956, Fredi married John Staige Davis IV and in 1958 the couple moved to Charlottesville. Their marriage was long (almost 50 years), fruitful (five children and 13 grandchildren), and filled with adventure, lifelong learning and mutual delight. John and Fredi took their young family on a year's sabbatical to Italy in 1966, and in 1979 the family spent another sabbatical year in Switzerland. In 1976, they bought farmland in Buckingham County, where, on a hill overlooking the James River, they established a country retreat, Cohomong Hill, a place for friends and family to enjoy tubing, songbirds, vegetable gardening, softball games, weddings and John's omnipresent "Poultry-Americans" (chickens). The couple lived in the same house, at 325 Kent Road in Charlottesville, for more then 40 years, and were planning a 50th anniversary trip to Bermuda (with all the children and grandchildren) in June. After her retirement, Fredi focused even more earnestly on her 13 grandchildren, spread throughout the East Coast. She was constantly by the side of new mothers; she babysat so that parents could get away; she hosted little ones at "Camp Davis" and on ski trips; she never forgot birthdays or Valentine's cards; and every year she presided over the family's two-week pilgrimage to Camp Noconomo, where her vision, hard work, and organizational skills made it everyone's favorite place in the world. On the day she died, she and John were preparing to drive to Washington for an overnight visit to see their newest grandson. Fredi was a devout Episcopalian and an active member of St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville for all of her adult life. In 1996, she obtained a degree in Education for Ministry from the School of Theology at The University of the South. Most recently, at St. Paul's, she inaugurated Friends in Deed, which provides direct support to sick and needy parishioners. Fredi was also a committed volunteer who always looked for a way to be useful. In her last few years, through an English as a Second Language program, she adopted two Afghan families. She was an avid flower gardener and a friend to pets and other animals. She never relinquished her great love of reading and was the founder of three book clubs. She also stayed on horseback, making regular trips to The Barracks until only a few months ago. Fredi is survived by her husband, Dr. John S. Davis; two sisters, Martha Abbott Holland and her husband, Dr. Frederick Holland and Frances Abbott Miller, both of Chestertown, Md.; a brother, the Rev. Samuel Bassett Abbott and his wife, Edith Abbott, of Cooperstown, N.Y.; two daughters, Susan Davis Bailey and her husband, Brad Bailey, of Winchester, Mass. and Frederica Davis Eder and her husband, Michael Eder, of Milton, Mass.; three sons, John Staige Davis V and his wife, Dr. Susan Fischer Davis, of Richmond, Stewart Everett Davis and his wife, Leah Wagner, of Washington, D.C. and Dr. Rufus Cole Davis and his wife, Dr. Beverley Call Davis, also of Richmond; 13 grandchildren, William, Eliza, Katherine and Charles Bailey, Natalie, Staige and Lucy Davis, Camilla, Connor and Frederic Davis, Simon and Jamie Eder and Nathaniel Davis; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, friends, and colleagues, all of whom will miss her beyond words. Fredi once said that her idea of heaven was "a quiet place to read"; she is there now, at last. Fredi Davis's funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at St. Paul's Memorial Church in Charlottesville, to be