Bell "Bea" Beatrice Davis

Sunrise March 24, 1949 Sunset June 27, 2018

Our loving, feisty, caring wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Bell Beatrice "Bea" Strayhorn Davis, was born on March 24, 1940 to the late Claude and Gertrude Strayhorn in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was the seventh child of ten children. She accepted Christ at a young age and later joined Holy Angels Catholic Church.

Bea received her elementary education at Wendell Phillips School #63 and later attended James E. Roberts when she was 11 due to developing rheumatic fever. Bea was a member of the first integrated class at Washington High School where she graduated in 1958. After graduating, she worked at General Hospital, formerly Wishard and later attended and graduated from Indiana Business College.

Beatrice met the love of her life in 1958. Teddy and Beatrice were united in holy matrimony on April 20, 1963, while he was serving in the army at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Indianapolis. To this union two daughters were born, Shalonda Lynn and Stacia Lynettte.

Bea worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for 29 years, retiring in 1995. After retirement and because she could not sit down, she had two jobs meeting and greeting others at the Charter Bus Company and Crown Hill Funeral Home. She left Crown Hill Funeral Home shortly after her first grandson was born in 2002.

She loved her church and volunteered on several committees. She served at St. Vincent de Paul, on the bereavement committee for thirty-five years, as a Eucharistic Minister, assisted with the annual Mardi Gras celebration, served on the financial committee, and as the ticket collector at the famous Holy Angels festivals for many years. Her giving spirit was also evident as she worked on the Thanksgiving and Christmas basket committee. She remained very active at Holy Angels until her health deteriorated. She believed in helping people, loved to shop and cook. Her famous dishes of cornbread dressing and macaroni and cheese will truly be missed. Bea's life was her grandsons. She was very active in their lives and they affectionately called her "Mama".

She was preceeded in death by her parents; her three sisters, Beulah Sides, Norma Jean Campbell, Brenda Ann Polk; and three brothers, Louis, James (Nit), Donald (Buck) Strayhorn.

Beatrice closed her eyes to eternal rest at the age of seventy-eight years, three months and three days on Tuesday, June 27, 2018, surrounded by her family. She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband of fifty-five years Theodore T. Davis (Teddy); daughters, Shalonda L. Davis Fernandes (John) and Dr. Stacia L. Davis Hill (David); three grandsons, Zane A. Hill, Zyon A. Hill, Isaiah T.J. Fernandes. Sister; Dorothy Murrell, Brothers Neale Strayhorn (Bessie), and Elder Claude Strayhorn (Valerie). A host of godchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Holy Angels Catholic Church Building Fund.