Bess M. Davis

Bess M. Davis (Bessie Mae Ice), age 95, went to her eternal home in heaven on Thursday December 2, 2021. She was born on October 21, 1926, the fifth child of Arthur & Molly Ice in West Frankfort, IL, a small coal mining town in southern Illinois. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 66 years, Pastor Walter R. Davis, on April 23, 2019, and by sisters Maxine Ice, Lucille Ice, Helen Jones, Mary Estes, and brother John Ice.

Bess is survived by sons, Greg (Elizabeth) Davis of Bellbrook, OH, Jeff (Kathy) Davis of Beavercreek, OH, and Tim Davis of Jacksonville, FL., grandchildren Reid Davis of Alameda, CA, Kristen Davis of Springboro, OH, Kelli (Jared) Tharpe of Knoxville, TN, Casey (Lucas) Draper of Beavercreek, OH, and Nicodemus, Emily and Zachariah Taylor all of Bellbrook, OH. She is also survived by eight great grandchildren: Iris Davis, Riley Tharpe, Jaxon Tharpe, Allie Draper, Canon Tharpe, Austin Draper, Isaac Draper, & Bowen Tharpe.

Family will receive visitors from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Tobias Funeral Home - Beavercreek Chapel. Funeral service 10:30 AM Monday December 20, 2021 at the funeral home. Pastor David Faile and Pastor Paul Santoro will assist with the service. Internment Mt Zion Park Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Dayton or the Salvation Army. Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com

Bess was blessed to live a long life in which she was constantly striving to serve others and to serve her precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She grew up on a small farm just outside of West Frankfort, IL. Her family experienced many trials and difficulties through the years including the death of her baby sister, Lucille at age 2 and the untimely death of her oldest sibling Maxine at age 20. Bess' mother, Molly, also passed away when Bess was only 10. Her older sisters, Mary and Helen, helped to raise her after her mother's passing. Her father Arthur Ice suffered much of his life as an invalid as the result of a stroke. He spent many years confined to crutches and then a wheelchair.

No doubt Bess's strong faith carried her through these hardships.

Bess was blessed with a brilliant mind. She graduated early at age 16 in 1943 from West Frankfort High School. She then worked for a bank and some other business offices to earn college money. She studied at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and while there she felt God calling her into Christian ministry. She went on to graduate in 1951 from what was then The Baptist Women's Training Center in Louisville, KY. Bess went on a mission trip in the summer of 1950 to Washington State. It was there that she first connected with Walter Davis who was also on the mission trip as a student at Southern Theological Seminary in Louisville. She and Walter began to date in the fall of 1950 and became engaged on Aug 18, 1951. The couple was married on June 3, 1952, at Bess's home church, Second Baptist Church of West Frankfort, IL

Just as Walter felt called to be a pastor, Bess also felt God called her to be a pastor's wife. She spent the rest of her life serving others and the ministries of the church in any way she could. Whether it be teaching Sunday school, working with the youth group, or mentoring women she never hesitated to step in. She helped Pastor Davis serve in churches in KY, IL, IN, CO, OH, & SC.

Bess was always a hard worker, she rarely stopped. After being a stay-at-home mom for several years, she re-entered the workforce in the early 1970s as a legal secretary. She was known for her exceptional typing speed and quick note taking via shorthand. She worked for an attorney in Xenia and another in SC during Walter's last full-time pastorate. She continued to work part-time well into her 80s in her son’s insurance office. She was always striving to learn and improve. In her later years she became proficient with the computer and her smart phone. She loved seeing her family and friends’ photos on Facebook!

She also loved music, especially the many great hymns that she grew up with. She sang in the church choir for many years. She loved the magnificent beauty of God's creation, especially the mountains. The three and a half years spent in Colorado included many great outings to the beautiful surrounding Rockies. She especially loved to see a fair-weather day with what she called her "white fleecy" clouds.

But her pride and joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She first became a grandma (Mumma) in 1978, and her first great grandchild was born in 2009. She would truly light up any time she saw the great grandchildren.

Our family was blessed to be able to see Mom on Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving. That was the last time we were able to be with her before she rapidly declined in the few days following Thanksgiving. We look forward to our reunion with her one day in heaven. In the meantime, we cling to the wonderful memories we have of so many great times together. No doubt she was greeted at heaven's entrance with the same words that her beloved Walter was when he entered heaven, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”