Mrs. Ruthie Mae Davis

Ruth was born in rural Jones County Mississippi, in a small town called Summerland. She was the eldest of seven children born to Rev. E.D. and Sweetie Kennedy Hatten. She had five sisters and one brother. They were raised on 60 acres of land, that remains in the Hatten family to this day. Her father was a farmer, teacher and preacher, having attended Jackson College at the turn of the 20th century. Her mother was a homemaker and missionary at the Old Palestine Baptist Church; a church that is now more than 120 years old. In 1937, Ruth attended Alcorn A&M University for three years. She and her sister, Odessa returned to the country each summer to pick cotton and do whatever they could to finance their education. Still, with three years of education, she was able to teach in the Jones County schools. In 1944, during WWII, she left home to work in a Chrysler plant as a seamstress. During this period, women were often employed in such positions that were previously held by men who were now sent to fight in the war. Ruth, like many of her generation, was led to relocate to Michigan in search of better opportunities and better pay. She lived with friends from her hometown until she was able to get her own place on Theodore Street on the east side of Detroit. In 1946, she married James Davis, a young man from Alabama, who worked for the Grand Trunk Railroad. Together they moved to a home on Canfield Street and raised four children. While attending Wayne State University, Ruth was a substitute teacher for the Detroit Public Schools district, still pursuing her dream of receiving her teacher certification in Detroit. In the midst of recession, turmoil and unrest, she had to focus her attention on raising her family and returned to work at Central Overall; a small linen supply company on East Grand Blvd. She joined the Pure in Heart Baptist Church under Rev. Adams and later joined New Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Thomas in the 1950's. Ruth was a faithful member of the Missionary Department, serving as its President from 1995-1999. She received New Calvary's Helen Odean Butler Sisterhood Award in 1999. She taught Sunday school and served as the Superintendent of the Church School as well as Vacation Bible School director. She was a leader in her community, a block club president and president of Marcy Elementary PTA. After her retirement, she became active in voter registration, serving as a poll worker and helping others to understand the ballot during election periods. She became active in the Oregon Street block club and neighborhood watch program. Ruth was a wonderful cook and hostess. She was known for her cakes and delectable southern style cuisine. She always had a pound cake ready for slicing when ever anyone stopped by for a visit. She loved to regale her grandchildren with stories of growing up in the rural south; something they knew little about. While the onset of dementia and ill health weakened her physical and mental strength, she remained strong in her faith in God. Her home on Oregon was filled with books on Christian teaching, letters from her sisters and childhood friends, memorabilia from Alcorn and other collected papers concerning education. Christian education, academic achievement and family was a legacy she received from her parents and she continued to encourage the spiritual lives of her caregivers and everyone she encountered.

Mrs. Ruthie Mae Davis

February 21, 1918 - July 16, 2014