Mrs. Hope Willard Davis

Mrs. Hope Willard Davis, 89, of Salisbury, NC passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at Trinity Oaks Retirement Center. Born September 11, 1926 in Salisbury she was a daughter of the late George Cleveland Willard and Blanche Jenkins Willard. Mrs. Davis attended Salisbury City Schools and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina, and, Master of Social Service Administration from the School of Social Work of the University of Chicago. She taught high school English before becoming a social worker. She was employed with the Rowan County Department of Social Services, taught social work for the School of Social Work at UNC-CH, and retired from the Catawba County Department of Social Services in 1986. She was a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Mt. Ulla, NC where she taught the Faith and Hope Sunday School Class and was the first woman to serve on the congregational council. She was past chairman of the Rowan County Board of Social Services, former member of the United Way Board of Directors, chair of the Funding Committee of Rowan Information and Referral, former member of the NC Department of Insurance Continuing Care Advisory Committee, recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 1994, member of the CLIO Book Club John Knox Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, and several bridge clubs. On August 4, 1956 she married Dewey Hayden Davis who preceded her in death on May 20, 2006. Surviving are son, Joe C. Davis and wife Mary Beth of Alpharetta, GA; daughter, Ann D. LaBarge and husband Richard of Itasca, IL; and son, John E. Davis and wife Vickie of Salisbury; and six grandchildren: Eric and Gina Davis, Steven and Robert LaBarge, and Jacob and Evan Davis. A Service of Remembrance will be held Friday (Sept. 25) at 2:oo PM at the Chapel at Trinity Oaks. A Memorial Service will be held 1:30 PM Sunday (Sept 27) at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, conducted by Rev. Mary Louise Sitton. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the fellowship building following the burial. Memorial Donations may be made to Rowan County Public Library CLIO Book Club Foundation, att. Pam Nance, 201 West Fisher Street, Salisbury, NC 28145; Trinity Oaks, 728 Klumac Road, Salisbury, NC 28144; or St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Building Fund 11020 NC Hwy 801, Mt. Ulla, NC 28125. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Davis family. Online condolences and memorial tributes may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Hope Willard Davis

September 11, 1926 - September 22, 2015