Ara Virginia “Shinnie” Keiffer Davis of Pelham, AL passed away peacefully at Compassus Hospice, St. Martin’s in the Pines on December 24, 2022, at 100 years of age.
Mrs. Davis was born in Ragland, Alabama on May 23, 1922, the oldest child of William C. and Willie Ledbetter Keiffer. She graduated from Ragland High School and subsequently attended business school in Birmingham. Virginia worked in Birmingham until her marriage to Lee Davis in 1947. The couple remained in Birmingham after the birth of their oldest two children, and then moved back to their hometown. Virginia remained in Ragland until 1994 following the death of her husband.
Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lawrence Lee Davis, brothers Charles E. Keiffer of Trevorton, PA and George W. Ledbetter Sr. of Tallahassee, FL, and daughter-in-law Catherine Whorton Davis of Jacksons Gap, AL. She is survived by 2 sons: W. Ross Davis of Jacksons Gap and Larry Davis (Janie) of Pelham, daughter Ginny L. Davis of Macon GA, five granddaughters; Amanda Davis Richards (Logan), Anne Davis Wesson (Josh), Allison M. Davis, Meredith D. Fuchs, and Margaret Lee Fuchs, great grandchildren Arabella Richards and Will Richards, Josh Wesson Jr. and Heather Wesson-Ritchey, and many loving nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
Having been raised in the Baptist faith Virginia joined the United Methodist Church in North Birmingham where she and Lee were married. They resided in North Birmingham in the early years of their marriage, and Virginia continued in the United Methodist faith until moving to Pelham where she joined the First Baptist Church of Pelham.
An avid genealogical researcher she put together an impressive family record prior to the computer age by writing letters, making phone calls, traveling to libraries where she accessed microfiche records and traveling to cemeteries and points as far as Pennsylvania to access information. Those records live on as a family reference that existed before online forums.
Virginia was a member of the James Gadsden chapter of the DAR, and the Order of the Eastern Star.
In her early years in Pelham, she enjoyed doing mission and volunteer work with the church for as long as her health allowed. Virginia enjoyed the Pelham Senior Citizens and the Red Hat Ladies and made several trips with the Senior Citizens over the years.
The family wishes to express thanks for her excellent and loving care while a resident at Maplewood Lane Assisted Living in Helena, then at Premier Assisted Living in Columbiana, and at Compassus Hospice Care.
Finally, we would like to share our appreciation to Lusain Funeral Home for the preparation of her earthly remains.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 on January 22 at First Baptist Church Pelham, 2867 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, Alabama. Dr. Daven Watkins will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to Sav-A-Life Shelby (https://savalifeshelby.org).
Mrs. Davis was born in Ragland, Alabama on May 23, 1922, the oldest child of William C. and Willie Ledbetter Keiffer. She graduated from Ragland High School and subsequently attended business school in Birmingham. Virginia worked in Birmingham until her marriage to Lee Davis in 1947. The couple remained in Birmingham after the birth of their oldest two children, and then moved back to their hometown. Virginia remained in Ragland until 1994 following the death of her husband.
Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lawrence Lee Davis, brothers Charles E. Keiffer of Trevorton, PA and George W. Ledbetter Sr. of Tallahassee, FL, and daughter-in-law Catherine Whorton Davis of Jacksons Gap, AL. She is survived by 2 sons: W. Ross Davis of Jacksons Gap and Larry Davis (Janie) of Pelham, daughter Ginny L. Davis of Macon GA, five granddaughters; Amanda Davis Richards (Logan), Anne Davis Wesson (Josh), Allison M. Davis, Meredith D. Fuchs, and Margaret Lee Fuchs, great grandchildren Arabella Richards and Will Richards, Josh Wesson Jr. and Heather Wesson-Ritchey, and many loving nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
Having been raised in the Baptist faith Virginia joined the United Methodist Church in North Birmingham where she and Lee were married. They resided in North Birmingham in the early years of their marriage, and Virginia continued in the United Methodist faith until moving to Pelham where she joined the First Baptist Church of Pelham.
An avid genealogical researcher she put together an impressive family record prior to the computer age by writing letters, making phone calls, traveling to libraries where she accessed microfiche records and traveling to cemeteries and points as far as Pennsylvania to access information. Those records live on as a family reference that existed before online forums.
Virginia was a member of the James Gadsden chapter of the DAR, and the Order of the Eastern Star.
In her early years in Pelham, she enjoyed doing mission and volunteer work with the church for as long as her health allowed. Virginia enjoyed the Pelham Senior Citizens and the Red Hat Ladies and made several trips with the Senior Citizens over the years.
The family wishes to express thanks for her excellent and loving care while a resident at Maplewood Lane Assisted Living in Helena, then at Premier Assisted Living in Columbiana, and at Compassus Hospice Care.
Finally, we would like to share our appreciation to Lusain Funeral Home for the preparation of her earthly remains.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 on January 22 at First Baptist Church Pelham, 2867 Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, Alabama. Dr. Daven Watkins will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to Sav-A-Life Shelby (https://savalifeshelby.org).
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