Sandra Arlin Davis

Sandra Arlin Hickman was born on September 10, 1937 in Belle Valley, Ohio to Eva Marie Johnson Hickman and Francis Eugene Hickman. She was the youngest in the family, with an older brother, Gene. As a young girl, Sammie - as she was known - had more than her fair share of loss. Her brother died at the tender age of 5, and her father died when Sammie was thirteen. Sammie spent most her young life in Wheeling, West Virginia, where she graduated from Wheeling High School. Living in a river city, flooding was rampant, and as a result she developed what would be a lifelong fear of water. When her mother moved to the Lancaster, Ohio area for work, Sammie moved with her, went to secretarial school and worked as a telephone operator. While she never had much of an interest in sports, one Friday evening she found herself at the football game in Carroll, Ohio where she met the man who would sweep her off her feet and show her world.

Jim Davis and Sammie Hickman dated for 2 years and were married on August 7, 1960. Once married, Sammie became Sandy - she figured the world could only handle one Sammie Davis! They started married life in a walk up flat just above the Wigwam Restaurant, a local favorite. That location was quite fortunate since Sandy didn't have much experience with cooking. Anyone who knew Sandy later in life would probably be quite surprised to learn that because she became an excellent cook and baker.

When Jim joined the Navy, their lifelong adventure began. Their move to Memphis, Tennessee for Jim's assignment at Millington Naval Base was the first of five moves that they would make before landing in Maryland. And Memphis is also where their family started to grow. Malinda Kay arrived as a Navy baby, James Bryan came along 5 years after that, with Derrick Edward was born just 15 months later. A work transfer relocated the family to Lewisburg, Tennessee (just outside of Nashville) where Craig Edward completed their family. Sandy's family was her life and she poured every ounce of her heart and soul into caring for and loving her husband and children.

After family adventures in Houston, Texas and Macon, Georgia, Sandy found herself living overseas for the first - and only - time in her life when Jim's company moved the family to San Juan, Puerto Rico. For someone who was terrified of water, living on an island with a pool behind her house was quite the challenge. And after a wonderful exposure to a new culture, with new friends and new experiences, the family moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland. She and Jim started their own businesses in Gaithersburg - Real Rich Ice Cream in the swanky, new Lakeforest Mall, followed by the American Speed Printing Centers in Quince Orchard, Shady Grove and White Flint. While Jim ran the production and sales operations, Sandy did the administrative and bookkeeping work. Yet again, a perfect partnership.

Sandy's interests throughout her life included needlework, music, and gardening. Sandy's embroidered quilts were gifts of love given to family and friends all over Montgomery County. She was an avid singer and loved being a part of both the church choir at Epworth as well as the Gaithersburg Community Chorus. She also played piano and loved playing both patriotic and spiritual music. The garden that she and Jim kept first in a community garden and then in their own backyard often provided more bounty than the family could consume, so canning and freezing became part of her summertime routine. And while Sandy and Jim always had a strong church life wherever they lived, it was in Gaithersburg that they found Epworth UMC, where they have remained faithful members for over 40 years. Sandy participated in bible studies regularly, sang in the choir faithfully, worked with youth and children in fellowship and Sunday School, and became famous for bringing her bite-sized, powdered-sugar-dusted brownies to fellowship hour each Sunday morning.

Her family and her faith were the center of her life, and nothing made her happier than when she was blessed with grandchildren. The arrival of Spencer, Jamie, Justin, Bryce, Madeline and Sean brought her such joy. She loved spending time with them and took every opportunity to have them at her house for play dates and sleepovers, always under the guise of giving her children and their spouses a bit of a break, while thoroughly enjoying every moment of cooking, playing, singing, gardening and laughing with each one of them.

In her final years, Sandy struggled with the effect that Alzheimer's had on her life and on the relationships that were so important to her. And yet, for the longest time - long after the names and the dates and the places had all disappeared from her memory, when she struggled to recognize the faces of the people she loved most in the world - her sweet, sweet spirit continued to shine through and bless those around her. Sandy leaves behind a legacy of faith and love that will continue to grow through the family she created and the community she served.

Well done, Sandy, you were indeed a good and faithful servant. Rest eternally now in the joy of the Lord!

        On Friday January 24, 2020 Sandra Arlin Davis of Montgomery Village, MD. Beloved wife of James E. Davis; loving mother of Malinda K. Smith (Newman), J. Bryan Davis, Derrick E. Davis (Holly) and Craig E. Davis (Jennifer). Also survived by 6 grandchildren, Spencer, Jamie, Bryce, Justin, Madeline and Sean.

        Friends may call at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 on Tuesday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 on Wednesday January 29, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Interment: Rockville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sandra's name to the Epworth United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.