Annette Marie Davis

Born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to George Cordano and Deborah Kelly, Annette was the second oldest sibling and the only sister to three brothers. Annette spent a lot of her early childhood

growing up around Darby, PA.

In 1978, Annette became part of the second class of girls ever enrolled at Milton Hershey School, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Starting in 6th grade and continuing until graduating in 1985, she excelled as a track star competing in hurdles, and for a short time, she held the Pennsylvania state record. Annette was also in the band front with the rifle line. While at Milton Hershey, Annette developed the skills for playing billiards and won several APA tournaments after high school as a young lady.

After graduating from Milton Hershey School, Annette moved back to the Philadelphia region where she attended college and received her paralegal degree from Delaware County Community College

and Immaculata University. In her early years of attending college to help offset her costs, Annette became a live mannequin model for large department stores in the Philadelphia region, where she

would stand for hours in new fashion clothes in storefront windows.

After college, Annette worked for several law firms in Philadelphia, Lancaster, PA, and in Wilmington, Delaware, before being hired by State Farm Insurance in their legal and compliance department.

After several years with State Farm Insurance, Annette accepted a position with Coventry Health Care as their compliance manager. She was instrumental in bringing Coventry’s HIPAA Compliance

regulations up to current standards at that time. Annette and her husband also ran a resale store in Wilmington, Delaware, called Annette’s Attic.

No stranger to hard work, and after moving with her husband back to his home state of North Carolina, Annette got involved into the local Brunswick County community. First, she joined Brunswick County Guardian ad Litem (CASA), where she was a voice for children in domestic court cases for 10 years. Annette wrote several funding grants for the Bolivia Volunteer Fire Department,

which were awarded to the department. Annette became the first pottery teacher at the Southport Baptist Church School of the Arts where she was a member.

Outside of work and volunteering, Annette loved camping with her husband and grandson, Ryan, up and down the East Coast with their camper. When camping was not an option, you could find Annette in her garage making pottery, which was her true passion. If she needed a break from camping and pottery, she would go to the beach and just read a book, as she loved the beach and the ocean breeze. Annette loved her family and enjoyed spending as much time with them as she could, especially her eight grandchildren.

Annette was preceded in death by her father, George Cordano, and her mother, Deborah Kelly.

Annette is survived by her husband, John M. Davis (Mike); her grandson of the home, Ryan Steltzer; her son, Robert Massi, and wife, Sophie; grandchildren Lucas, Bryce, and Reed of Landenberg, PA; daughter, Erika Skeen, and husband, Jimmy; grandchildren Natalie, Lane, and Halle of Newport, NC; stepdaughter, Johnnielynn Czerny, and husband, Dan; granddaughter Charmaine of Kenton, DE; her oldest brother, Ted Cordano, of Wilmington, North Carolina; Michael Cordano of Pennsylvania; and Joe and Kris Cordano of Williamstown, New Jersey. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and her husband's Davis family, whom she thought of as her own family and loved visiting with them.

A funeral service will be October 24, 2026, at 2:00 pm at Peacock, Newnam and White, 1411 N. Howe Street, Southport, NC, with Pastor Bradley Huggins officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.