Willie Dean Greer Davis, lovingly known as, “Lil”, was born on August 29, 1928, in Center, Texas. She was the sixth of nine children born to McNeal Greer and Mable Polley Greer. Lil and her twin sister, Billie, were born into an agricultural family and became known throughout the community as Big Girl (Big) and Little Girl (Lil). Reared in a Christian home, Lil gave her life to Christ at twelve years of age and fellowshipped with Bright Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral care of Rev. Anderson. Lil was educated in Center, Texas and was a graduate of Center Colored High School.
Upon graduation, she attended Texas College in Tyler, Texas. In the early 1950s, Lil moved to Fort Worth where she met Horace A. Davis. The two were united in holy wedlock on December 14, 1953, and to this union two sons were born, Horace A. Davis, Jr. and Alan Dale Davis. They took up residence in the historic Terrell Heights on the South Side of Fort Worth. Mr. and Mrs. Davis owned and operated Davis Funeral Home in Downtown Fort Worth for many years. They also participated in the local and national Funeral Directors Association, until his death in 1970. They were active members of the historic Morning Chapel CME Church where Mr. Davis served as an Elder. She later became a member of Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth, Texas where she actively served for decades. Lil occasionally attended church with her children at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.
Lil was employed by Glenview Hospital and the Texas Turnpike Authority which was later known as North Texas Toll Authority (NTTA). She was a supervisor and served faithfully until her retirement in 2004 after 30 years of service. Lil was widowed early in her children’s lives and, as a single parent, she was a strong advocate for whatever activities her sons pursued. She also enjoyed and was dedicated to having a hand in the rearing of her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren whom she adored.
Subsequent to her retirement, Lil continued to find pleasure in entertaining and cooking for her family. A main tradition in the Davis household was to eat family dinner on Sundays. It was not uncommon to see chicken and dumplings, fried pork chops, salmon croquettes, neck bones, wild rice dressing, greens, candied sweet potatoes, hot water or cracklin’ cornbread, chocolate chip cookies and banana pudding. Lil loved listening to and singing the blues as well as Old Negro Spirituals. She enjoyed sports activities, especially fishing and the Dallas Mavericks. Her favorite players were Devin Harris and the Lakers Kobe Bryant.
Lil loved people and never met a stranger. She was engaging and always looked for opportunities to help and share her wisdom with others, making sure to let you know that it was “information only”. Lil was naturally light-hearted and brought humor into every conversation. She lived her life in a way that reflected her devotion to God and her family. Lil was greatly loved by many and was affectionately known as “Momma”, “Nanny”, “Nanny Davis”, “Aunt Lil”, “Ms. Willie” and “Ms. Horace”.
Lil was preceded in death by her beloved husband of seventeen years, Horace A. Davis, Sr.; parents, Mable Polley and McNeal Greer; brothers, Clifton P. Greer, Thomas O. “T.O.” Jackson, and Delton N. Greer. She was also preceded in death by her twin sister, Billie Greer Hardy. Lil leaves to cherish her memories: two sons, Horace A. Davis, Jr. (Gale) and Alan Dale Davis, Sr. (Vernessa); four grandchildren, Kyle Davis Degen (Dustin), Alan Dale Davis II, Tyler Anderson Davis (Jessica), Cameron Wesley Davis; and three great-grandchildren, Cooper Tripp Anderson Davis, Peyton Riley Ann Davis and Wesley Paige Degen; twin sisters; Mazel Greer and Hazel Greer Williams; and a host of nieces, relatives and friends.
VISITATION: will be live streaming go to Facebook and search gale.s.davis.5 it will start at 5:30 pm.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gwspencerdirs.net for the DAVIS family.
