Aura Celeste Davis

Aura Celeste Davis (80) of Mont Belvieu, Texas, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Born November 21, 1944, in New York, New York, to Mario and Providence Marrero, Celeste lived a life defined by faith and service to the Lord.

She graduated from Jesse Jones High School in Houston, Texas, and attended South Texas College. As a young woman, she was recognized as runner-up in the Miss Gulf Coast pageant and worked in the 1960s as a stewardess for Eastern Airlines before starting a family.

Celeste's Christian faith was the cornerstone of her life. She spent 28 years working and living in East and Central Africa and India with her late husband, Loren. Together, they conducted open-air gospel crusades, taught seminars, and ministered in cities and remote villages. Their ministry resulted in the construction and dedication of 276 churches in Africa’s unreached areas. Until her passing, Celeste continued to teach African officials and pastors through a four-hour, Zoom class twice a month, as well as distribute thousands of Bibles in native languages to Africa and India. Celeste touched countless lives around the world. She exemplified the virtues of kindness, grace, beauty and strength toward her friends and family with the same dedication she showed her mission work. Her legacy of love and service will continue to inspire all who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Loren Davis, and by her parents Mario and Providence Marrero.

Celeste is survived by her sister, Priscilla Marrero of Rockland County, New York; brother, David Marrero of Riverdale, New York; children: Matt Gilbert (and wife Karen) of Mont Belvieu, Texas, Justin Gilbert (and wife Celina) of Gonzales, Louisiana, and Lisa Trigueros (and husband Niko) of Oxnard, California; grandchildren: Rachael (and husband Kyle) Kirkland, Megan Gilbert, Hannah (and husband Ethan) Burton, Gretchen Gilbert, Mia-Noel Gilbert, and Edison Trigueros; and great-grandchildren: Brantley Segovis, Jude Kirkland, Caleb Kirkland, Madison Kirkland, Elizabeth Kirkland, and Tatum Burton. Celeste leaves behind a family that cherishes her memory and a community that will forever be grateful for her selfless contributions. She will be deeply missed. Until we meet again.

Visitation will be held at Living Hope Church, 7611 TX-146, Baytown, Texas 77523, Thursday, August 7, 2025, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, with the Funeral Service to begin at 11:00 am. Committal will follow at Brookside Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Fwy, Houston, Texas 77039, at 2:30 pm.

Honored to serve as pallbearers: Brantley Segovis, Ethan Burton, Niko Trigueros, David Khaemba, Mark Doggett, and Will Doggett.