She was born 3 months premature in 1948, a time when only 2% of babies that early survived. Doctors said this resulted in her blindness. She graduated from the Kentucky School for the Blind in 1968. Blindness didn’t stop Ethel from living a full life of marriage, raising a family, ceramics, singing and teaching. She was a member of the American Council of the Blind and its Kentucky affiliate. Through KCB she taught various classes to blind and visually impaired people such as ceramics and basic daily living skills.
Ethel took up ceramics and excelled in expressing herself through abstract pieces. Her work was displayed in several galleries in Louisville and she won various awards including a Golden Globe Award from Ceramics World Magazine. Ethel’s longtime passion was always music. Her personal tastes varied widely; from Giacomo Puccini to Eydie Gorme to Weird Al Yankovic (she didn’t sing any of his songs though). She sang with a few groups and choirs and for a time she even sang with the Louisville Orchestra. Ethel was creative, giving and kind. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mary Atkins; her sister, Patricia Atkins; brother, Eddie Atkins; and her son Steven Davis, as well as spouses, Hubert Davis Jr. (father of her children) and Manus Castle.
Ethel leaves behind her loving husband of four years, David Bray; daughter Mary Bartley; and three grandchildren, Zachary Davis, Rachel Davis and PK Bartley III.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Dignity Chapel of the Evergreen Funeral Home. Ethel will be entombed in the Garden of Flowers of the Evergreen Cemetery & Garden Mausoleums. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until the Funeral Hour of 2:00 p.m. also at the Evergreen Funeral Home.
