Sharon Spillman Davis

Surrounded by her loved ones Sharon lost her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, the same type of cancer that took her father. Known affectionately as "Sha," she was born Feb. 21, 1951, to Cecil and Seetsie Reese Spillman in Baton Rouge and recently moved to Denham Springs where she worked at Triton Healthcare, a job she loved and with people she adored. Sharon leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband of almost 35 years, Charles "Tony" Davis; her mom, Seetsie Spillman Thompson and her husband, Joseph, affectionately known as "Mr. Joe," of Denham Springs; her little brother, Darrel Spillman and his beloved Connie; niece, Heather Spillman; nephew, Jeremy Reese Spillman. Sharon had three special daughters who were her heart and soul, Stefannie Jarreau, Toni Diane Davis and Sarah Davis Roberie and fiancé BJ Richard, all of Denham Springs; a special "son," John Watts. Known affectionately as "Grammie" the loves of her life have been her grandchildren, Gaige Austin, who passed away from SIDS in 2002, Alyssa Paige and Isabella Grace Roberie, Lane Roberie and Sydney Grace Watts, all of Denham Springs, in addition to a new expected grandchild in July. Members of the family also include Lawrence Davis and his wife, Bonnie, of Denham Springs, Angela Blakemore and husband Cliff, Baton Rouge, John Joe Davis and wife Dorothy, New Orleans, Susan Vancleve and husband Gene, James Davis and wife Denise, Michael Davis and wife Lucy, all of Yazoo City, Miss., and Mary Hinton and husband Jim, Hazelhurst, Miss., and many very special nieces and nephews on the Davis side of the family. Also left to cherish her memory are her uncle, Ray Spillman and his sons, Church, Ricky and Mark, of St. Francisville, and uncle Sydney Spillman, aunt Eva Nell and their sons, Paul, Mike and Rusty, of Zachary, her dear cousins, Valera Bondesen Walters and Kris Bondesen, of Texas. Included in survivors are Trey Roberie, who is the father of four of her most precious grandchildren; and of course, her family at Triton Healthcare, aunt Jewel Devall and dear friend, Cynthia Cotten. Cynthia has given her so many years of love, support and comfort and spent the most wonderful times together with her and Sharon always standing by each other, even during the most difficult times. They have been the best of friends for more than 45 years. Sharon is also survived also by childhood friend, Carol Jean Leffel Dupuy, who had the amazing knack to be able to speak at the same time for hours and still know what each one said after the conversation was over. She was surely greeted with open arms in Heaven by her daddy, Cecil Spillman, and her firstborn grandchild, Gaige Austin Roberie and her twins, Chad and Heather Jarreau. She never got over losing her little Gaige and her daddy left her a letter and told her he would be waiting at Jesus' feet for her - we are sure that he was! She also will walk the streets of gold with grandparents, Green and Essie Spillman, Etta Reese and close friend, Donna McAllen MCkey. Preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Rita Davis, who loved Sharon and daughter Stefannie from the first time Tony took them to Yazoo City. Sharon graduated from Glen Oaks High School and was very proud to be a 1969 graduate, always enjoying class reunions and seeing childhood friends. Sha had special bonds with her school classmates that have lasted through all these years. She lived for LSU football and certainly bled purple and gold! Sharon was a charter member of Lanier Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and a current member of Zoar Baptist of Central, having spent many years in the church choir as well as teaching Sunday school and choir to three and four year olds. Visitation at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. until service at 2 p.m., conducted by TW Terral, Gibbie McMillan, Greg Oneal and Mark Hebert. Burial in Zoar. Some of her happiest days of her life were spent with friends and family at her church, teaching preschool, Sunday school and choir. Our family would like to sincerely thank Dr. Jay Brooks and all the members of his staff as well as the fifth floor of Ochsner Medical Center. Without you, our journey through this disease would have been harder to endure. Pallbearers will be Elliott Jarreau, Bruce Wilkinson, Lawrence Davis, Gary Devall, Paul Spillman, Cliff Blakemore, Mark Devall and Paul Davis. Honorary pallbearers are Rodney Cotten, Rex Norman, Gene McKey and employees of Triton Healthcare. Donations can be made to the Leukemia Society or to SIDS research in her honor. Special words of comfort she has left behind, "I am not there. I do not sleep. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you wake in the mornings hush, I am the swift uplifting rush, of quiet birds in circled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry for I am not there. I did not die. Thank you for my amazing life filled with love and special memories. Thank you to my husband, Tony, and I will love you from Heaven all the days of my life. You loved me no matter what. ... Sha.