Barbara Ruth Johnson Davis
September 21, 1936 ~ August 16, 2023
Mrs. Davis was born on September 21, 1936, in the back bedroom of 258 Haywood Road in West Asheville to the late Johnny Carlo and Flossie Poteat Johnson. She graduated with honors from Lee Edwards High School in 1955, as a member of the Torchlight Society. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina Asheville, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Mars Hill College. She retired from Asheville City Schools in 1996 after 25 years of service.
She was a lifetime member of Trinity United Methodist Church and was a member of the Mary Mann Sunday School class for over 60 years.
Mrs. Davis is survived by her husband Jimmy; three children, Marcie Davis (Todd Winkler), Brian Davis (Libby), Sandra Smith (Tim); grandchildren Zachary Smith, Sara Reinecke Churchill (Tony), Essy Hatchett (Logan), Whitney Davis, Kara Smith (Austin Fowler), Ellen Reinecke (Anthony Saleiro), Maggie Spratt (Ashton), Will Davis, Nick Davis, and Addison Davis; one great-grandchild Simon Hayes Spratt; sisters Zaundra Soesbee (Campobello, SC) and Deanna Bailey (Marietta, Ga); brother and sister-in-law Billy and Gail Davis (Sumter, SC), and many nieces and nephews.
A devoted wife, mom, nana, and friend, Mrs. Davis first and foremost loved and took care of her family—and her definition of family was both wide and deep. She never did anything half way, and gave back to others through every part of her life, whether that was through her church, her career working with schoolchildren, or her family. She loved traveling with her husband, and together they went to 49 states and multiple European countries. A favorite trip was to Taormina, Sicily. While serving overseas in the Navy, Jimmy visited and dreamed of taking Barbara there one day, a dream that was realized once they retired and spent many years going on adventures together.
Her life is well summed up by one of her favorite scriptures, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
A celebration of life service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, August 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church, with her son Rev. Brian Davis, and Pastor Nancy Walton officiating. A receiving of friends will be held at 3:00 p.m before the service.
The family would like to say thank you to special care givers Diane Hutchison, Tia Davis, and Lisa Young, and the wonderful staff at Carepartners Home Hospice and Solace.