Mrs. Mae Joyce Adelman Davidson

Mae was born on the 6th of October 1939 in San Antonio, Texas, to Philip Adelman and Selma Sideman Adelman. She is preceded in death by her husband, the late Ralph Pye Davidson, who died in 2005, her parents, and by her sister-in-law, Sarah Bergner Adelman.

Mae attended Alamo Heights and graduated from St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio in 1957. She attended Wellesley College, Sophie Newcomb College (Tulane), and Rice University. It was in New Orleans, while attending Sophie Newcomb, that Mae met Ralph. They married in 1959 and, after several years spent in New Orleans, Jackson and Baton Rouge, Mae and Ralph settled in Houston and spent 45 wonderful years together raising their children, being with family and friends, and going from event to event. She traveled extensively over the years going on one adventure after another and especially enjoyed time spent up in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. Mae volunteered her time with many organizations throughout Houston over the years and was a former member of the board of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum. She was a member of Congregation Beth Israel and held memberships in The Forest Club in Houston and The Argyle in San Antonio, Texas.

Mae is survived by her three children: Charles Davidson and his wife Keli of San Antonio; Philip Davidson and his wife Susie of Houston; and Margaret Davidson Abernathy and her husband Andrew of Atlanta. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Cheney, Nina and Ike Davidson of San Antonio; Ellie, Sydney, and Sloan Davidson of Houston; and Andrew and Storey Abernathy of Atlanta. Additionally, she is survived by her brother, Frank Adelman and wife Nancy of San Antonio; and her sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Harold Meyer of Meridian, Mississippi; as well as by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Esperanza Tristan for all of her tremendous help and care to the Davidson family over many years and to Lupita Sanchez, Flora Ross, and Jose Ramirez along with Connie, Nancy, Gregoria and Carmen for their care and support. Additional thanks are due to Dr. James Willerson, Dr. John Stroehlein, Dr. Apostolia Tsimberidou, Dr. Christopher Garrett, Dr. Michael Wallace and Connie LeDay Jacobs for their care and guidance.

Her funeral service was conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Monday, the 2nd of May, in the sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Senior Rabbi David A. Lyon officiated and Associate Rabbi Adrienne P. Scott served as the cantor. Designated as casket-bearers and honorary pallbearers during the services were Mae's beloved family.

The interment followed, via an escorted cortege, at Beth Israel Memorial Garden at Antoine.

Immediately following, all were invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue that was announced at the conclusion of the interment service.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family suggests memorials, in the name of Mae Adelman Davidson, be directed to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210-4486.