| Sources |
- [S112] Census, 1930.
name: Reba Davis
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: Parrottsville, Cocke, Tennessee
gender: Female
age: 19
marital status: Single
race: White
birthplace: Tennessee
estimated birth year: 1911
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Daughter
father's birthplace: Tennessee
mother's birthplace: Tennessee
enumeration district number: 0003
family number: 26
sheet number and letter: 2A
line number: 6
nara publication: T626, roll 2238
film number: 2341972
digital folder number: 4548152
image number: 00055
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head William L Davis M 58 Tennessee
wife Lelia M Davis F 53 Tennessee
son Lyons B Davis M 26 Tennessee
son Liston Davis M 23 Tennessee
daughter Reba Davis F 19 Tennessee
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 11 Dec 2012.
(January 14, 1911 - December 11, 2012)
Reba Davis Williams
At the time of year as the Winter Solstice, when the harvest is over and Christmas celebrations begin, Reba Davis Williams died in her home in Newport, Tennessee at the age of 101. She had made plans to celebrate her 102nd birthday, January 14, 2013. Ms. Williams was born on the family farm off Goodwater Road which is now part of the Parrottsville Community. She moved to the village of Parrottsville in 1919 with her family. Her parents were William Lee David (1897-1922) and Lelia Easterly Davis 1877-1967). She received her degree in the spring of 1932 at Asheville Normal Teachers College and began teaching the first grade in the fall of that year at the old Parrottsville School. She taught the fifth and sixth grade at Parrottsville before teaching career in Tuxedo, MC, for one year. She then moved back home to Newport and continued her teaching career at Newport Grammar School, where she taught for 36 years. “I expected an honest effort from my students and generally got it, “said Williams,“ when you stimulate that ‘something special’ in a good student, you switch on a twinkle in the eye that will last a lifetime.” Williams’ grandfather, Frances Marion Easterly (1820-1903), was co-founder of Parrottsville Academy in 1875, and her great-uncle taught in that school which years later became a public school in Parrottsville. In 2009, this award winning educator help delicate the Tennessee Division of Forestry Natural Resource Center located in Cocke County. To organize her financial contribution to the Center, the Reba D. Williams Classroom now exists. Williams credited a life-long study of trees, wild flowers and birds that lived in our forest, to adding a richness to life. She believed that teaching is a calling, a bit similar in nature to a religious experience. “Earth’s natural resource bases set us apart from the sun, moon, stars and other planets in our solar system. Nature possesses degree of orderliness that serves as a model for living, and educators must deliver this lesson, “commented Mrs. Williams. She considered all her students as ‘family’ and attempted to keep up with their children and grandchildren. In 1937, she married Floyd W. Williams and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 27, 1987. Floyd’s death was December 31, 1987. They were both avid University of Tennessee fans. Reba D. Williams was a Charter Member of the First United Methodist Church, sang in the Church Choir and taught in the Junior Department of Sunday School for many years. Mrs. Williams was a Charter Member of the Newport Music Club for 65 years and enjoyed her piano at home and preformed in the nursing home regularly. She is survived by her niece, Mary Anna Pirozzoli (Charlie) and a host of students. Services will be Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at 2:00 pm Saturday, December 15, 2012 at Oven Creek Methodist Church Cemetery. Friends will gather at the First United Methodist Church, Friday, one hour before the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church 212 Washington Ave., Newport, TN 37821.
Family and friends may sign the guest register on line at: www.manesfuneralhome.com.
Manes Funeral Home in charge.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 13 Dec 2012.
Reba Williams, noted educator and musician, dies at 101
Author: Duay O'Neil
NEWPORT-One of Cocke County's oldest citizens has died.
Reba Frank Davis Williams, age 101, died at her Newport home on Tuesday following a brief illness. She would have celebrated her 102nd birthday on January 14.
Born in the Goodwater community of Cocke County, she was one of three children and the only daughter of William Lee Davis and his wife, the former Lelia Easterly, and proudly claimed her heritage as a descendant of many of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina's earliest pioneers.
As a child, she moved to Parrottsville, then a mere village with an unpaved roadway connecting it to Newport and Greeneville. Here she grew to maturity, attending local schools.
Because Parrottsville High School only offered three years' work, she finished her fourth year at Newport's Central High School (now Cocke County High School), graduating in 1928.
Following her graduation in 1932 from Asheville Normal Teachers College, she returned to Cocke County to begin a teaching career that would eventually span four decades.
At the beginning of her career and after teaching for a time at Parrottsville, because of political repercussions she was forced to leave Cocke County for a time and taught in Tuxedo, North Carolina for a year.
Upon returning to Cocke County, she joined the faculty of Newport Grammar School, where she would spend the remainder of her working days, mostly as a teacher of fifth grade.
Here she earned a reputation as a strict and demanding educator, who settled for no less than perfection from her students, both academically and behaviorally.
Her students, many of whom are now in their 80s, can still recite poetry she required them to memorize while in her classroom.
One former student, Sandy Burchette, now principal of Newport Grammar School, recalled, “I will always have fond memories of Mrs. Williams. She added that special touch to my career by sending notes of congratulations upon my various achievements and to let me know she was very proud of my accomplishments as Newport Grammar School’s principal.
“We were extremely happy to have her attend our yearly luncheon for our retired teachers and staff members last spring. She remained so alert and, in my eyes, still looked as young as when she was my teacher.
“On behalf of NGS and the staff, I send our condolences to her family. Newport Grammar School was very fortunate to have had Mrs. Williams as a teacher who helped mold students’ lives, both academically and morally.”
In addition to her work as an educator, Williams was also a talented musician. She was a charter member of the Newport Music Club and shared her vocal and instrumental talents in many ways. Well into her 90s, she enjoyed volunteering at Newport Convalescent Center by playing the piano.
A lifelong Methodist whose ancestor, Jacob Easterly, was instrumental in the establishment of a church at Oven Creek, a short distance from the family farm, which lies both in Cocke and Greene Counties.
For over 50 years, she was a regular worshiper at First United Methodist Church in Newport, last attending services on November 26 of this year.
Her grandfather, Francis Marion Easterly, joined four other civic-minded men in giving $500 each to purchase the former Roadman mansion in Parrottsville in 1875 to establish “a subscription school.” These men formed a board of directors and elected a teacher. They named the new school Parrottsville Academy and placed it under the direction of George R. Stuart and Thomas Robeson for several years.
The school quickly earned a reputation for its high academic standards and methods. In 1890, they sold this property to the Methodist Episcopal Church, which operated the school under the name Parrottsville Seminary. Today Parrottsville United Methodist Church stands on the pre-Civil War foundations of this building.
The widow of Floyd W. Williams, who died in 1987, Williams was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Liston and Lyens Davis. She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral services will be held Friday at First United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. with burial in Oven Creek United Methodist Church Cemetery in Parrottsville at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Manes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 102092266).
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
name: W L Davis
titles & terms:
event: Marriage
event date: 04 Feb 1903
event place: Greene, Tennessee, United States
age:
estimated birth year:
father:
father's titles & terms:
mother:
mother's titles & terms:
spouse: Lelia M Easterly
spouse's titles & terms:
spouse's age:
spouse's estimated birth year:
spouse's father:
spouse's father's titles & terms:
spouse's mother:
spouse's mother's titles & terms:
reference number: 747
film number: 1148852
digital folder number: 004486555
image number: 01963
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