Elsie Davis

Elsie Martin Manning Davis

Avera, GA –                Elsie Martin Manning Davis, 94, loving wife of 66 years to Charlie Edward Davis and 10 years to the late Albert Buford Manning, peacefully entered into her eternal rest Sunday evening, November 13, 2022 at her residence.  Funeral services to celebrate her life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday morning, November 17, 2022 in the James Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Robert Thompson and Dr. Bob Martin officiating.  Interment will follow in the Jefferson County Memorial Gardens.

Born in Brunswick to the late Rena Lee Walters Martin and the late Reverend Edgar Augustus Martin, Elsie married at the age of 16, moving to Wrightsville where their son was born, then to Louisville before settling in Stapleton. After only ten years of marriage, tragedy struck and she suffered the loss of her husband. Being a young, single mother, she attended and graduated from business school after which she worked as a bookkeeper for Thomas Brothers Chevron in Louisville for over 30 years.  God was faithful and sent her a new love—they married in 1956 and were blessed with another son.  Family was Elsie’s first priority and she loved being a homemaker, providing her family with a comfortable, loving, safe-haven. She loved cooking, canning, and tending to her abundant collection of flowers.  An avid reader, her favorite book was her Bible and she spent many hours reading and studying God’s word. Elsie also enjoyed working word puzzles with her granddaughter, Montana.  She did love to shop, especially for her family at Christmas, her favorite time of the year.  In their elderly years, she and Charlie spent their time taking care of other elderly people, visiting, running errands and making repairs.  Elsie accepted the free gift of salvation as a child and was baptized by her father, a Methodist minister. She attended Waldens United Methodist Church for many years where she played the piano, sang in the choir and worked with the youth. In her later years, she attended and served her Lord and Savior at Wrens United Methodist Church.  Elsie has been described as being determined and independent with a caring, loving, and compassionate heart. She loved her family unconditionally—they filled her heart with great joy.  The loss is great but her legacy lives on and because of her faith and love for God, we have the hope and assurance of her being in her eternal home where she is awaiting the reunion with her loved ones.

Elsie is also preceded in death by her brother, Edgar Augustus “Buddy” Martin Jr.; and her sister, Betty Ruth Martin Means (Grady).  Others left to cherish her memories include her sons, Albert Buford Manning, Jr. (Bonnie) and Charles Bryan Davis; grandchildren, Clifford Willis Martin (Greyson), Jiles Edgar Manning (Serena), Justin Nicholas Manning (Justine), Jeffrey Bryan Davis, and Montana Jones Davis; great grandchildren, Sumner Nicole Manning and Lainey Elise Manning; sister-in-law, Wilma Martin; nieces, nephews, other extended family, church family and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Davis, Jiles Manning, Justin Manning, Richie Marsh, Buddy Martin and Eddie Martin.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Wrens United Methodist Church, 202 Russell Street, Wrens GA 30833.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday evening, November 16, 2022.