Rachel Barham Davis was born May 12, 1925 to the late George Bingham and Christine Barnes Barham in Como, North Carolina. She was the last living child of this union. She joins her siblings: Mae, Delores, Joe Bingham, Blanche, Verneda, Stella, and Mavis in eternal rest.
She was a baptized at an early age at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Newsome, Virginia. In her early twenties she moved to Norfolk, Virginia. She married the late Mathew Lee Davis of Sedley, Virginia on September 17, 1945. They were parents to two daughters, Eloise Christine and Kara Mae. She held a variety of public service positions throughout her life, but most of her life she was a loving housewife. She was feisty, but a loyal friend who held others in high regard, and expected them to behave accordingly. She joined Shiloh Baptist Church in 1950 and served in the Senior Choir 59 years, the kitchen ministry for 25 years, and as Sunday school, youth and bible school leader for 25 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Mathew Lee Davis and her daughter Kara Mae Davis. She leaves to mourn: her daughter Dr. Eloise Christine Davis Adams, her son-in-law Dr. Howard Glen Adams and her granddaughter Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, special friend Reverend Linwood T. Daughtrey, adopted daughter Mary Chambers Watkins and her children Kim and E.W., brother-in-law Garland (Rita) Davis, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shiloh Baptist Church Kitchen Ministry or the Dr. Howard G. and Eloise C. Adams Scholarship Fund at the Norfolk State University Foundation.
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