1926
Virginia
2013
Virginia Gilda (Salter) Davis
September 27, 1926 — September 22, 2013
Virginia Gilda Salter Davis. Sept. 27, 1926 - Sept. 22, 2013.
Ginny was born and raised in Sea Level, NC. She moved to Washington, D.C., at 20 years old after finishing secretarial school at Campbell College. She met and married Joseph Dees Davis there, and traveled the world with Joe, taking time off to raise her children in between working as a civilian for the government for more than 20 years. She made her family’s home in many states, including North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado and Iowa. Their European stays were in Verdun, France, and Baumholder and Weisbaden, Germany. When abroad, she was very active in the Officer’s Club, participating in committees to plan parties and formal get-togethers, and helped the newly arrived wives acclimate to their surroundings.
She received several awards for her work, and retired in the mid 1980s. Ginny loved to cook, and was famous in some circles for a variety of foods, like her soft shell crabs, yeast rolls, and chocolate cake.
Anyone who knew Gilda, as the Down Easters referred to her, knew she was a huge fan of bells. She had more than 200 in her international collection, from Swiss cow bells to Handel yearly bells through several decades to Thai wand-struck bells. It was great entertainment for the little visitors to her home to sneak a jingle before being sweetly asked to step away from the bell cabinets. And she adored hats - beret, large rimmed, fedora - they all worked for her lovely features. As for her persona, Ginny had a strong ethic of family, work and faith. She was a Southern Belle with a sweet demeanor but she wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was, and even if someone didn’t agree with her, there was always an air of respect about her forthright nature.
Ginny and Joe retired to Sea Level surrounded by family and friends until Hurricane Isabel flooded their home in 2003. She spent her final years near Wilmington, NC. Ginny died from natural causes around 1 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Southport, NC.
She is survived by her sister Rachel Lewis, and children Joseph Dees Davis, Jr. and wife Robia, Phillip Leigh Davis and wife Abbie, Debra Kaye Borsuk and husband Joe, Cathy Davis Danielle and husband Larry. She has 12 grand children and fifteen great-grand children.
Viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, at the Sea Level Missionary Baptist Church, 1096 Highway 70, Sea Level, NC, 28577.
Condolences can be sent to the church. Ginny was loved by many and will be greatly missed. As her husband Joe used to say, “She’s a class act.”
Ginny was born and raised in Sea Level, NC. She moved to Washington, D.C., at 20 years old after finishing secretarial school at Campbell College. She met and married Joseph Dees Davis there, and traveled the world with Joe, taking time off to raise her children in between working as a civilian for the government for more than 20 years. She made her family’s home in many states, including North Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado and Iowa. Their European stays were in Verdun, France, and Baumholder and Weisbaden, Germany. When abroad, she was very active in the Officer’s Club, participating in committees to plan parties and formal get-togethers, and helped the newly arrived wives acclimate to their surroundings.
She received several awards for her work, and retired in the mid 1980s. Ginny loved to cook, and was famous in some circles for a variety of foods, like her soft shell crabs, yeast rolls, and chocolate cake.
Anyone who knew Gilda, as the Down Easters referred to her, knew she was a huge fan of bells. She had more than 200 in her international collection, from Swiss cow bells to Handel yearly bells through several decades to Thai wand-struck bells. It was great entertainment for the little visitors to her home to sneak a jingle before being sweetly asked to step away from the bell cabinets. And she adored hats - beret, large rimmed, fedora - they all worked for her lovely features. As for her persona, Ginny had a strong ethic of family, work and faith. She was a Southern Belle with a sweet demeanor but she wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was, and even if someone didn’t agree with her, there was always an air of respect about her forthright nature.
Ginny and Joe retired to Sea Level surrounded by family and friends until Hurricane Isabel flooded their home in 2003. She spent her final years near Wilmington, NC. Ginny died from natural causes around 1 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Southport, NC.
She is survived by her sister Rachel Lewis, and children Joseph Dees Davis, Jr. and wife Robia, Phillip Leigh Davis and wife Abbie, Debra Kaye Borsuk and husband Joe, Cathy Davis Danielle and husband Larry. She has 12 grand children and fifteen great-grand children.
Viewing will be held at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, at the Sea Level Missionary Baptist Church, 1096 Highway 70, Sea Level, NC, 28577.
Condolences can be sent to the church. Ginny was loved by many and will be greatly missed. As her husband Joe used to say, “She’s a class act.”
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