Charita Benarya Davis Young left this earthly realm on 20 February 2022, after a long sickness, surrounded by her children, who she loved more than anything in the world. Though Charita’s health was failing for years, few people knew the extent to which she struggled. Her joy for life and indominable spirit kept her pushing through the pain. She was 79 years young.

Charita was born Bertha Lee Heath to Tommy and Gertrude (Ward) Heath on 17 August 1942 in Lambert, Mississippi. She was the second oldest child of what would become eighteen children. Charita was a 1950 graduate of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York and a 1984 graduate of Columbus Technical Institute in Columbus, OH. She was a member of the Athena Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Stars. After traveling the world, Charita moved to Dayton, Ohio where she spent the remaining years of her life building lasting friendships.
Charita was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 30 years, Warren H. Davis, her son John W. Woodard, brother Tommy Heath, Jr, sisters Beatrice Gilford, Dorothy Strickland, Dorothy Faye Porter, special niece Machelle Porter and three additional nieces and three nephews.

She leaves to cherish her memory, the loves of her life, her 3 children: George (Pam) Ervin of Memphis, TN, Tia (Paul Johnson, Jr.) Davis of Dayton, OH, and Taneka L. Dixon of Columbus, OH; 3 grandchildren: Nicholas D. Collins of Milwaukee, WI; Jasmine Davis of Memphis, TN, and John W. Woodard, III of Baltimore, MD; 6 great-grandchildren: Kayla, Nicole, Devon, Faith, Hope, and Mia Collins of Milwaukee, WI; 6 godsons: Albert ‘Big Al’ Bowling, Travis ‘Teddy Bear’ Ward, Alexander ‘June’ Ewing, Jawaun ‘Tank’ Simon, and Dustin (Morgan) Glascoe all of Dayton, OH and Miguel Patrick of Atlanta, GA; 3 goddaughters: Antanae ‘Nae Nae’ McClesky, Rhonda Glascoe, and Amber Glascoe of Dayton, OH; 10 brothers: Roy ‘Big Roy’ Heath, Roy ‘Lil Roy’ Heath, Darryl Heath, and Willie Heath, Kimmie Bolton, and Lord ‘Butch’ Carr all of Memphis, TN; Charlie J. Heath and Larry Porter of Dayton, OH, Frank J Porter of Chicago, IL, and Andrew (Pam) Ingram of Tutwiler, MS; 5 sisters: Gertrude (Richard) Cave of Cincinnati, OH, Christine Ingram of Minneapolis, MN, Betty (Norman) Pearsall of Peoria, IL, Shirlene Glasper of Lambert, MS and Gladys (Melvin) Little of Marks, MS; Special nieces Natasha Gilford and Stella ‘Star’ Porter, special nephews: Roosevelt ‘Rosey’ Porter, E. A. ‘Reggie’ Debraux III, Jamaal Harris and Anthony ‘AJ’ Jordan of Dayton, OH and Roy Gilford of Chicago, IL; Special cousin Raymond Smith of Dayton, OH; lifelong friends and sisters Sheila Harris and Nadine Williams; special friend Rodney E. Weaver and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.