?Funeral services for the late Deaconess Beatrice Davis will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 11:00 am at Abiding Word Family Ministries, Moncks Corner SC. Interment services will follow immediately at Westview Cemetery, Moncks Corner, SC.  Viewing for the public will be held on Friday from 12:00 noon- 8:00 pm at the funeral home and at 9:00 am until the hour of the service, on Saturday, February 25th at the church.

Life Profile

Wife : Deaconess Davis was the second of seven children born to George and Sullie McCray on August 16, 1924, in Williamsburg County, South Carolina. She leaves to cherish her memories three siblings: Olin (Sadie) McCray; Jeff McCray, Joseph (LuAnn) McCray, Nora Johnson and one brother-in-law, Payden Tisdale. Siblings who preceded her in death are: Sarah Tisdale, George (Francis) McCrae, Josephine (Emerson) Davis and one brother-in-law, William Johnson.

Growing up she observed her parents as they modeled living a life for God. Deaconess Davis replicated these values in her role as a dedicated wife to her husband, Deacon James Clarence Davis, for 66 years. When Deacon Davis, then 11 years old, first saw his wife to be, she was 9. He would proudly tell everyone "I looked across the school playground and saw this young girl -- her back was turned towards me. She had big legs and hair hanging down her back and I knew instantly that she would be my wife." They were married eleven years later, on June 16, 1945, in Williamsburg. County. Three years later they relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where they resided until 1983.

Deaconess Davis lovingly supported her husband and took great pride in making sure their home reflected her love for God and family. She lived a life before her husband that reflected a virtuous woman. She loved to prepare his white shirts for church and often referred to her husband as "my best friend." Her witness led him to not only join the church, but to receive Christ as his Savior and fervently serve God for the rest of his life!

Mother : Both parents strived to instill godly values and morals in their children, she was the enforcer "spare the rod—spoil the children". Deaconess Davis valued education and instilled in her children the desire to seek higher levels of learning. Every Saturday she sent her children to the public library. Before vision boards existed, she taught her children how to dream. Her children caught the vision and believed that with God any career was possible. Deaconess Davis had a high respect for pastors and loved to talk about all the men of God that she knew, who carried the Word!

To the union of James and Beatrice three children were born, Solomon (who preceded them in death), Rev. Minnie (Spencer) Anderson and Delores (William, who preceded her in death) Rock, both of Orangeburg, SC. Adopted children: Paul and Della Nesmith of Williamsburg County, Sandra Sessomes of Owings Mills, MD. She has five grandchildren, Rev., Dr. Otis (Tiffany) Cutler; Michael Cutler, Mark (Dawn) Cutler, Tony (Pat) Anderson and Stacy (James) Taylor; ten great grandchildren and five great, great-grands.

Friend : Deaconess Davis was loved by all who met her and she instantly adopted everyone to be her child. Wherever she went her smile and hardy hugs would portray more than words could ever say. When she relocated back to Andrews, after 45 years in Maryland, she reconnected with childhood friends. Although Deaconess Davis could not visit as much as she wanted to, she would call and spend time talking about the goodness of the Lord. She loved to pray, taking that after her mother who would pray for hours; and would often receive calls from friends for prayer and spiritual counsel.

Woman of God : As a child, Deaconess Davis would travel with her mother to pray for the sick. She was a prophetess who knew God was able to do anything but fail. She lived a life praying for healing and deliverance for those that were bound. She had a powerful handshake that left one knowing that they had encountered her.

At Christian Memorial Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, Deaconess Davis served as an usher and later she and her husband were ordained as deacon and deaconess respectively. The pastor was Reverend Frank

Brown. When they returned to Williamsburg County they continued to serve in ordained ministry at Cedar Grove Baptist Church, where Reverend Doctor Herman Gibson, Jr is the pastor. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, they moved their membership to New Horizons Christian Fellowship in Goose Creek to support their daughter, Minnie, in ministry. New Horizons later became Living Word Christian Center; they remained there under the pastorate of her grandchildren Mark & Dawn Cutler. After the passing of her husband, she relocated to Orangeburg County where she resided with her daughter, Delores. Due to health concerns she was not able to travel so she joined Franklin United Methodist Church where her daughter, Minnie Anderson is the pastor. In Psalms 1:1a the Word says "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly". That is truly how she lived her life, always offering prayer, counsel and encouragement to those in need. During her time of illness, her caregivers spoke of how Mrs. Davis was always praising God and offering spiritual counseling based on the Word of God. She trusted God in all things and would tell her caregivers "God can do anything but fail".