Mr. Roosevelt Ernest Davis

The Lord called Roosevelt Davis to Him on July 1, 2022 while he was peacefully sleeping at home. He lived a wonderful and glorious life always surrounded by family and friends. It wasn’t always good, but it was always LOVE. Roosevelt Davis was born to Mark and Edna (Washington) Davis in Roberson, MS. They relocated to Chicago, Ill where he was raised alongside his favorite sister Bertha. While growing up on the south side of Chicago, he spent his days doing odd jobs to help out his family. He sold watermelons on the corner, shouting, “Cool Red, Cool Red, Watermelon,” when that didn’t yield enough money, he ran numbers for the bookie. While he was young, his parents realized they were best friends, but not great loves. His momma went on to find love with the late Fred Johnson who tried to steer Roosevelt on the straight and narrow path. Roosevelt met his beautiful wife Annette (Snow) Davis and the Lord blew his mind and his heart. He said, “You are the lady in white and you are my wife. She said, “I don’t even know you.” They eventually were married on June 29, 1963 after he almost put hands on the priest (he was Baptist, she was Catholic). He was blessed to have a 59 year courtship with his true love all while raising 7 kids. If you ever asked my dad what is the secret for a long lasting marriage, he always said, “Never stop courting your wife.” Take long drives going nowhere listening to Jazz. Date night was every night. Get all inappropriate in aisle 6 at the grocery store (don’t do this). He never stopped courting her and always with the little things; buy new drapes on a Tuesday, buy her a random outfit on a Thursday, plants because she loved them, even though he didn’t. Roosevelt found a love for music at an early age and was a drum major in his school band. His true love in music was Jazz, even naming his son after his favorite jazz artist Miles Davis. He also played around with the trumpet and saxophone, he was good enough to keep his young children sitting still and listening. He shared a love for cooking with his momma and shared that same love with all his sons. Just like his momma, he cooked with love. Roosevelt leaves behind to continue his legacy of love: wife: Annette; children: Miles, Phoebe, Marcus, Kathy, Pharoah, Linus, and Holly; 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, loads of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and children of love, if not by blood.

Mr. Roosevelt Ernest Davis

August 3, 1940 - July 1, 2022