James Kitle Davis

Personal and Family Information

James was born on 18 OCT 1935 in Woodruff County, Arkansas, the son of Sanford Kitle Davis and Mary Anne Gravenmier.

He died on 24 JUN 1976 in Jackson, Hinds Cty, Mississippi.

His wife was Betty Jo Culbertson, who he married on 24 DEC 1955 in First Baptist Church, Augusta, Arkansas. Their three known children were Robert Kitle (1957-2009), Jerry Clyde (1961-2006) and Thomas Floyd (1962-).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Attributes

Multimedia

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Notes

Note 1

Betty Jo Culbertson Davis, August 7, 1937 - February 19, 2017

Dr. Jo was born in Crossett, Arkansas on Aug. 7, 1937 to the late Clyde and Eugenia Moseley Culbertson. She and her sister, Peggy (Carter), moved with their parents to Star City and Gould, AR, where she accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.

After her junior year in high school, she and her parents moved to Augusta, AR, where she graduated from August High School in 1955. She met James Kitle Davis, but she moved to Memphis, TN to attend Draughons Jr. College. James (Jimmy) followed her and they were married on Christmas Eve in 1955. While in Memphis, she gave birth to Robert Kitle Davis in November, 1957, and Jerry Clyde Davis in February, 1961. The family moved to Jackson, MS, where in September, 1962 they completed their family with the birth of a third son, Thomas Floyd Davis. The family joined Parkway Baptist Church, and over the years were instrumental in creating the bus ministry, Children's Church, and the Sunday morning television program Impact as churches began to reach out into the community for those unable to attend services. There, each of her sons accepted Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior. She also returned to college at Mississippi State in Clinton, where she graduated with her BS in history education and started her teaching career at Mississippi Baptist High School.

In 1976, Jim died, and with Thom and Jerry, she moved back to Memphis. There, the family joined Elliston Baptist Church and she became a "legend" at Elliston Baptist Academy, where her sons went to High School. She also taught at Evangelical Christian School, and received her Master's degree in English Education at Memphis State University. From there, she went on to the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her Doctorate in Education (English).

Her sons had gone on to the US Army (Robert), US Marine Corps and later, Army (Jerry), and US Navy/Marine Corps (Thom). With her Doctorate in hand, she moved to Walnut Ridge, AR, where she was an Associate Professor of English at Williams Baptist College. While there, she founded the WBC chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honors Society, and won the hearts of all she met. She was a member of Walnut Ridge First Baptist Church.

Just before full retirement, she moved "home" to Star City, and took an Assistant Professor position at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, to be near her sister, Peggy. She also moved her letter to First Baptist Church, Star City. While she had a full, rich life, life took some tragic turns. She lost her sister and her two oldest sons, Robert and Jerry, and three homes due to various twists and turns in her roller coaster of life, including a tornado and a house fire. She finally settled in Dumas, AR with her youngest son, Thom, who was a high school English teacher at Dumas High School. She moved her letter to Dumas First Baptist Church. And then she was stricken with Alzheimer's Disease to which she finally succumbed at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock on February 19, 2017.

She was universally loved, and will be missed, but her family, Thom and grandsons Nathan Kitle Davis and Christopher James Davis (Robert), and Zachary Thomas Davis (Jerry) rejoice that she has found her way into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her final appearance center stage was at Butler (Pleasant Hill) Cemetery on Saturday, February 25, 2017, a small affair for family and friends officiated by Bro. Marcus Rogers of First Baptist Church, Star City. Any memorials may be sent as gifts to English Department or General Scholarship fund at Williams Baptist College, Walnut Ridge, AR. She wanted her last words to everyone to be what had become her mantra as a mother, grandmother, teacher, professor, and friend: "You're beautiful, and I love you!"

Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City. Online guestbook at www.griffinfuneralservice.net.

https://www.griffinfuneralservice.net/obituaries/Betty-Jo-Culbertson-Davis?obId=18968535#/celebrationWall

Note 2

#17, page 40, Sanford Kitle Davis, May 13, 1880-Sept 15, 1971

#61, page 68, Sanford Kitle Jr Davis, Jan 29, 1915 - Jan 28, 1996 married Dec 7, 1934

Pages 68-69, Mary Anne Gravenmier, Oct 28-1912 - Sept 18, 1969

#137, page 95, James Kitle Davis, Oct 18, 1835 - June 24, 1976

married Dec 24, 1955, Betty Jo Culberson, (7 Aug 1937-19 Feb 2017)

three sons: Rober Kitle 1957-2009, Jerry Clyde 1961-2006, and Thomas Floyd born 1962

#138, page 96, Jere Walter Davis, Aug 20, 1938 - Jan 30, 1999

married Feb 20, 1960, Frances Gillespie Web

son: James Carl born 1960, two daughters Mary Frances 1964, Cynthia Jo 1965

These not shown in partial scan of Davis Family History, by Gary Tedford, March 2009, Book #3.

Note 3

gravestone inscribed "Home is the Hunter"

Note 4

class mates include Frank Hendricks, Johnny Matlock, & Billy Ray Smith,

Johnny Matlock was best man in Jimmy & Jo's wedding, hunted with Jim a lot in high school.

He did attend one year, maybe just one semester at U of A in Fayetteville and played drums in the marching band.

Note 5

I worked in Bunkie La in the summer of 1968, before my last semester at Uof A. Jimmy called that he was going to be in area and then came by and ate supper with me one night. We had a wonderful time visting and telling stories, but it was the only time he ever ate my cooking. I tried to fry chicken and didn't do well at all. He ate it with me, but next time he came thru town, we ate at a restrauant.

At some point, Jimmy and Jo moved to Jackson Mississippi. there he worked for Mississippi Highway Dept. The only time we talked about his work, he told me that his primary job was leading a crew that located and moved graves when State Highways were expanded or rerouted.

Sources

1. Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City

   Source:	Census 1940 Arkansas, Woodruff County, Augusta City
   Authors:	US Federal Census
   Date:	APR 1940