Sylvia Anne Davis

A memorial service, followed by a luncheon, will be held for her at National Presbyterian Church (4101 Nebraska Ave NW Washington, DC 20016) on Friday April 12 at 11am.

A graveside ceremony will be held on Monday April 15th at 11:30am at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens (200 E Padonia Rd Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093) a light luncheon will be provided after at Maison Nord Garden. Address and directions to be provided at the event.

Born in Baltimore on October 31, 1927, Anne was the daughter of Paul and Emma Allendorf. She graduated from Catonsville High School in 1944, and from Anderson University in 1951, where she was active in campus life as a member of the Pep Club and college chorus. Anne married Ernest Richard (Dick) Davis in 1954 and they spent 59 adventurous years together.

Anne grew up in Catonsville Maryland, in a brown shingled house with her younger brother Paul Allendorf. As a child, she enjoyed helping her father in his bakery, making rounds to deliver fresh bread and treats to the neighborhood. In high school during World War II, she was the first-ever female delivery person for the Catonsville Post Office. Anne grew up surrounded by a close-knit group of cousins, with whom she remained close throughout her life. After college, Anne spent many years as an Elementary School teacher for Baltimore County.

She was an active member of First Church of God in Baltimore, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, and working with the Head Start program. Anne and Dick were longtime much-beloved leaders of the church’s Youth Group.

A lover of the outdoors and nature, she enjoyed gardening, camping and hiking with family, bike riding, and birdwatching with her cousin Ruth Culbertson. In their younger days, Anne and Dick could often be spotted pedaling their tandem bike. They loved all bike trails and eventually traveled the entire length of the C&O canal. Anne loved animals, including her beloved Whiskers, and her grand-animals Speed, Rex, Gracie and Winnie. Anne’s love of music and singing took her on many outings with the Sweet Adelines.

Anne and Dick raised two children, Laurel and Kevin. Anne had a passion for learning and sharing the world with her family. She planned cross country camping trips that included stops at National Parks and monuments and cultural sites. In their retirement years, Anne and Dick bought an RV and spent time roaming the country, hiking and biking along the way. Anne loved to explore new places and she and Dick made many treks around the world including to England, France, Australia & New Zealand, Scandinavia, Greece & Turkey, Chile, Argentina & Peru, and many others. They enjoyed family excursions to Alaska and the Netherlands.

Anne and Dick helped to build homes with Habitat for Humanity’s “Care-A-Vanners” group, traveling in their RV to sites across the rural South. During one memorable trip to Georgia, they had the opportunity to meet Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter.

In later years, Anne loved playing games with her grandchildren, Ella and James. She could always be counted on to cheat at Dominos! After moving to Washington DC in 2018, she spent countless hours enjoying nature in nearby Rock Creek Park.

Anne was a sweet and gentle soul and loving mother who will be deeply missed. She is survived by her daughter Laurel Davis (Trevor Blow) and son Kevin Davis (Greg Kuether) and two dearly-loved grandchildren Ella and James.

Memorials in Anne’s honor may be directed to one of the charities that she supported throughout her life:

Habitat for Humanity

The Nature Conservancy

The Maryland Ornithological Society

National Museum of the American Indian

Rails to Trails Conservancy