Dr. Celestia Brannen Brannen Davis

Dr. Celestia Brannen Davis passed from this life to her Heavenly Home on October 2, 2010. She was born on June 20, 1915, in Swenson, Texas, but soon moved to Aspermont, where she lived through high school. She accepted Christ as Savior. Her relationship with Christ guided who she was and what she did thereafter. She showed high intellect and passion for religious and secular education. She displayed great skill in vocal and keyboard music. As a teen, she played the piano for four different denominations and community events. Upon graduation from high school, Celestia taught school in two towns. She had success with teaching children to read. She entered Abilene’s Hardin-Simmons Baptist University, and connected with her future husband, Paul Wendelin Davis, by playing the piano accompaniment for his vocal solo at church.

Celestia and Paul married and began a lifetime of preaching, teaching, and making music. She served Baptist churches as a pastor’s wife and religious leader in Oklahoma and South Texas. They moved to Arizona, where Paul served as President of the Arizona Baptist Convention. The couple gained prominence in the Southern Baptist Convention= Paul as a key-note speaker and revival evangelist, and Celestia as a public speaker and teacher in the Texas, New Mexico and Arizona state conferences, the Southern Baptist Convention, Glorieta Baptist Assembly, and Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly. Celestia also assumed dual roles of teacher/ principal of a one-teacher multi grade school on the Pima Indian Reservation. Celestia was effective in teaching reading to preteens and teens in the inner-city who were previously non-English-speaking students. Later, Celestia was recognized for her success in teaching reading to younger students in Morton (Texas).

The couple moved to Austin, where Celestia was the Texas State Reading Coordinator with the Texas Education Agency. Celestia organized the Texas State Reading Association. She served as Chairperson of the International Reading Association. She implemented a national Literacy grant: The Right-To Read Project. She directed reading efforts in all Texas public schools. Her work impacted millions of school students and teachers. Dr. Davis’ public speaking eloquence in championing reading success for all children was recognized across the states, for she appeared at national conferences and traveled routinely from Austin to Washington, D.C. to conduct business.

Retiring from the Texas Education Agency, Dr. Davis moved to Clear Lake City (Texas) with Paul. They became faithful Members of the Clear Lake Baptist Church. Paul served as substitute preacher and trained Bible teachers. Celestia ministered through Sunday School, worship, and Women’s Ministry. Celestia was pianist of the JOY Sunday School Class and Bay Area Sunshine Club, with Paul serving as the club’s Chaplin. The couple traveled extensively. Celestia continued community and church activities after Paul’s death, ministering as the Prayer and Worship Leader of her Sunday School Class. She trusted Christ completely and served Him constantly.

Degrees earned: bachelor of Religious Education (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary); Master’s Degree in Education and Educational Specialist (Eastern New Mexico State University); and Doctor of Education (Texas Woman’s University).

Honors and awards received: The Texas Council of International Reading Association Literacy Award; and inclusion in the Notable Women of Texas, Outstanding Teachers in Exceptional Education, Persons of Eminence in Exceptional Education, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, Who’s Who in American Women, and the International Who’s Who of Intellectuals.

Professional Organizations: Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading; International Reading Association; State Organizational Chairman of the International Reading Association; Founder of the Texas State Council of International Reading Association; Capitol Area Council of International Reading Association; Charter Member of the Texas Association of Professors of Reading; National Council of Teachers of English; Texas Joint Council of Teachers of English; Organizer of the Association of Texas language Arts Supervisor; Past President of the National Association of the State English and Reading Supervisors; Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Dr. Davis was predeceased by her parents Iva Galloway Brannen and Calvin Ernest Brannen; sisters Ernestine Brannen Jamieson, Lila Marie Brannen Hagins, and Iva Ella Brannen Oliver; and brother Charles Brannen.

She is survived by her daughter Wendelin (Wendy) Davis Taylor of Clear Lake City, Texas (and her husband Arden W. Taylor); grand-daughter Alisa Taylor Dickson of Saint Hedwig, Texas (and her husband Glen Dickson); grand-daughter Angela Taylor Kyle of New York City; great-grandson John-David Kyle of Boone, North Carolina; great-granddaughters Brookelyn Michelle Dickson, Taylor Nicole Dickson, and Chandler Bryanna Dickson of Saint Hedwig, Texas; brother, Dr. Noah Samuel Brannen of Desert Hot Springs, California; sister Derah Frances Brannen Stanley of Panorama Village, Texas (and her husband Miles F. Stanley); sister Barbara Brannen McKenzie Flowers of Panorama Village, Texas (and her husband Moody Flowers); and her brother’s widow Connie Brannen of Las Vegas, Nevada. Numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Please join the family in a Celebration of Life Service, Saturday, October 23, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., at Clear Lake Baptist Church, 15700 Space Center Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77062.