Ella W. Davis

Ella Wayne Davis was born in Cohay Camps, Raleigh, Ms. on May 22, 1935. Her father, William L. James, was a traveling mule skinner in the logging industry. Her mother was Annie Jane James from Taylorsville, Ms. Ella was the second child of six children after her beloved brother, Wilson Lee James. The family eventually moved to Taylorsville from Cohay but also moved to Pascagoula in her early childhood for her father’s work as a welder. They moved back to Taylorsville in her teens. They attended a Pentecostal church there pastored by Pastor Lee Broadhead. There she met the love of her life, Paul Franklin Davis. They were married in Pastor Broadhead’s home on September 1, 1951. Their first son, Paul Melvan was born in Laurel, Ms and seven months later, they moved to Pascagoula, Ms. for work. They had no car so they had ridden with a relative and found an apartment. During the day, Ella and Melvan’s transportation was walking with a baby stroller and Paul’s was riding the city bus to work. Paul eventually found his job of 43 years at Ingalls Shipbuilding Industry. They had their second child, Saundra Kay, August 22, 1955. They became faithful members of First Pentecostal Church of Pascagoula, Ms. pastored by Pastor Buford Miller. Approximately in 1960, Ella became a Licensed Practical Nurse scoring the highest in the state on her state boards despite not being able to finish high school. She worked first in Labor & Delivery in Singing River Hospital, obstetrics, pediatrics, and eventually became the office and surgical nurse of Dr. Harry Burrow, a successful Otolaryngologist in Pascagoula. She was beloved by patients near and far in the Mississippi Gulf Coast for her healing and spiritual touch on their lives. She knew thousands of surgical instruments and assisted in performing life-saving surgeries during that time. During her obstetrics years, many patients would call her home and ask her to follow them to the hospital as they went into labor. Ella worked for Dr. Harry Burrow until retirement in 1997. At the end of her surgical career, when she retired, Dr. Burrow also retired. He said he could never train another nurse to be like Ella. On July 23, 1965 came the birth of their third child, Jamie Paulette. The joy and encouragement she had for her children both spiritual and educational was remarkable. Her son became a minister and capable mechanic and both daughters became registered nurses and ministers’ wives, and all are musicians. Paul & Ella moved back to Taylorsville to the Davis family property and built a beautiful home where together they enjoyed gardening of fruits and vegetables. She had a green thumb for lilies and roses and landscaping. They built ponds filled with fish. After enjoying eight years of retirement and traveling , she returned to the medical field at 70 years old and worked for 10 more years as a nurse at Rolling Acres Nursing home, which is now known as Mississippi Care Center of Raleigh. She loved her residents and became a very important part of the medical team from nursing care to learning the new computer system entering data. She retired “again” from there at 80 years of age. She and her husband helped in the foundational birth of the Promiseland church of Taylorsville, Ms. pastored by Pastor Marty Swanner. She was a beloved saint there for 18 years. She became the head of a homeschool in her home with successful students going on and graduating from college. All during her Christian ministry, she sang solos, sang in trios with beautiful harmony, led choirs, led congregational singing, taught Bible classes and held the high honor of counselor, prayer warrior and prophetess. Her favorite pastimes were shopping, decorating, cooking, collecting dolls, traveling and fashion. She loved Jesus Christ, her husband, her children and all her friends. She was preceded in death by her parents William Lee and Annie James, brother Wilson Lee James, and sister Joyce Webb. Her survivors include her husband Paul Franklin Davis, son Paul Melvan Davis (Jan), and daughters Saundra Kay Rooks (Marcus) and Jamie Paulette Swanner (Marty). She was beloved as Meems to six grandchildren: Christy Cook (Shawn ), Major Paul C. Davis (Miranda), Joshua Rooks (Ruth), Alexis Rooks Frenette, Marta Lowery (Blake), and Janna Doba (Paul). She has ten great-grandchildren and has been an adopted grandmother and friend to many in need of love. Great is her faithfulness. She left this life on January 25, 2026 at 90 years of age at her home with a smile on her face despite a long, difficult illness and she was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her faithful husband, Paul, and her faithful family cared for her as angels transitioned her home. The lives she touched, only heaven will tell. We give honor to Deaconess Hospice of Laurel for their faithful and skillful support during her illness. We couldn't have given her the honor she deserved without them. “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:28-30. Visitation will be held Friday, January 30, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, Mississippi, with services to follow at 2:00 p.m. Bro. Melvan Davis, Bro. Marcus Rooks, and Bro. Marty Swanner will officiate. Interment will be in Fellowship Cemetery in Taylorsville. Pallbearers will be Major Paul C. Davis, Joshua Rooks, Shawn Cook, Blake Lowery, Paul Doba, and Scotty McMahan. Honorary pallbearers will be Levi Lowery, Liam Frenette, and James Davis. To sign or view the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Ella W. Davis

May 22, 1935 - January 25, 2026