Joyce M Davis' Obituary
Joyce Davis, 87, of Columbia passed into eternity on Thursday May 17, 2012 at her home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, May 25, 2012 at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home in Columbia. Visitation will be held from 10-11 am Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Joycie Mae (Cross) Davis, devoted mother and loving grandmother, was born on January 25, 1925 to Benjamin F. and Bessie G. Brown Cross of Columbia, Mo. She attended Douglas High School where she graduated valedictorian of her class. She departed from this life on May 17, 2012. She was 87 years old.
Affectionately known as “Mama Mae,” “Grandmamma Mama Mae,” “Grammy,” “Peaches,” and “Ms. Joyce,” Joycie was known for her fried chicken and other home cooked dishes, but especially her homemade cobblers and pies—raisin, apple, cherry or peach, you name it, family and friends sought her out to make it.
Joyce spent part of her life in Munich and Kaiserslautern, Germany, during the 60s and 70s. She and her family also lived in Fort Riley and Salina, Kansas, during the Viet Nam War. As a young girl she sewed and embroidered her own clothes by hand. Her hobbies included bowling and bingo. Her favorite TV shows were “The Price is Right,” “Jeopardy” and “The Golden Girls.” She was a long-time member of Second Baptist Church in Mexico, Missouri. She was kind to animals and people, and would give everything she had to someone in need. She retired from Boone Hospital Center in 1992 after 25 years of service.
Joyce’s descendants span four generations and can be found in all walks of life, including college graduates with bachelor and master’s degrees, semi- and professional ball players, musicians, journalists, artists, educators, biologists, medical professionals and ministers.
Her parents and three sisters preceded Joyce in death. She leaves behind to cherish her memory four sons, Gregory V. (Della) Dawson of Hannibal, Wilford F. Cross, Darrell W. Cross and Robert L. Dawson, all of Columbia; three daughters, Joyce B. Dawson, Linda C. Dawson, both of Columbia, and Sylvia L. (Lee) Williams of Romulus, Mich.; one brother, Robert B. Cross of Columbia; and one sister, Birdie D. Slaughter of Kansas City, Mo., 19 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 15 great great-grandchildren, and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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