Willie Earl Cooley-Davis (Bee), 89, of Fairhope, passed away on July 21, 2012.
Mrs. Davis was born December 10, 1922, in Webster County Mississippi. She lived in Bellefontaine, Mississippi, and graduated from Eupora High School in 1940, where she was valedictorian of her class. She then attended Holmes Junior College on a varsity basketball scholarship. On December 28, 1940, she married, Bodie Cooley, her husband of 42 years (deceased September 24, 1982). They raised four daughters. In 1954 she resumed her pursuit of higher education, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi Southern College in 1956 and her Doctorate of Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1972. Her distinguished career as an educator included elementary teacher, high school teacher, basketball coach, supervisor of student teaching, and finally director of student teaching at USM from which she retired in 1989. At retirement she moved to Fairhope, to be near family. On November 20, 1994, she married Benjamin Mac Davis. They enjoyed 18 happy years together. Mrs. Davis possessed a very strong and enduring faith in God. She served him throughout her life as a sunday school teacher and faithful member of her church. She enjoyed her cabin in the North Carolina mountains, fishing, gardening, canning, cooking and hosting large family gatherings. Her favorite celebration was Christmas. Her beloved parents, Edna and Fuller Moore, and brother, Wyatt McCord Moore of Bellefontaine, husband, Bodie Cooley of Dixie Community, and youngest daughter, Debra Lee Stogner of Destrehan, Louisiana, preceded her in death. She is survived by husband, Benjamin Mac Davis, daughters, Kay Freeman (husband Jim), Becky Nichols (husband Gary), and Liz Dyar (husband Jerry), and sister Bobbye Fowler. Survivors also include grandchildren, Sharron McGahee, Kim Agney, Teresa Criswell, Trey Dyar, Vanessa Southerland, Scott Hawkins and Crystal Hunter, great- grandchildren, Erin McGahee, Derek McGahee, Blake Baylor, Jacob Criswell, Kristen Dyar, Kendall Dyar, Hatteras Dyar, Jacob Dyar, and Jordan Poche, great-great-granddaughter, Emory Dyar, stepdaughter, Anna Marie Boulware, stepsons, Dan and Mike Davis, and many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses of Thomas Hospital involved in her care, loving friends, and church family for countless acts of kindness during her days of failing health. Good-bye to a loving, strong, and beautiful lady whose life was an inspiration and guiding light for many. We will love and miss you always. Services will be at Norris Funeral Home in Bay Minette, Tuesday July 24, 2012. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 11 a. m. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. with burial to follow in Bay Minette Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to Mission of Hope Ministries, 14970 Mission Road, Mobile, Alabama, or to Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1086, Fairhope, Alabama.
