John and Flo Davis Education Scholarship

The children and grandchildren of John and Flo Davis have established an education scholarship fund for deserving students in memory of our parents and grandparents. Both Jay and Flo believed in the youth of our nation and have a long list of young people they have helped in various ways including monetary donations.

For these reasons, at Flo's homegoing on August 26, 2008, her 87th birthday, we have established a memorial fund in their honor with the Education First Federal Credit Union in Beaumont, Texas. Donations can be made directly to this fund at any Education First FCU office or by mailing them to the John and Flo Davis Education Scholarship, Post Office Box 323, Port Bolivar, Texas 77650.

A board of directors has been appointed and will serve as administrators of the scholarship fund. Complete disclosure of all receipts and disbursements will be made available twice yearly.

We believe that both Jay and Flo would be honored by this idea. Kelly Nolan, one of Flo's faithful caregivers and friends, will be helped immediately to continue her pursuit of a nursing degree at Lamar - Port Arthur.

Mother is home in heaven now...

Flo Ella C. Davis, 87, formerly of the Atlanta area, died Tuesday, August 26, 2008 in CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas after suffering a massive stroke caused by a cancerous brain tumor 13 days prior to her homecoming.

Flo was born August 26, 1921. She was the daughter of the late Marshall E. and Lena Darby Cole. Flo, a graduate of Avondale High School, married her school sweetheart, Robert Henry Cannon, who was killed in action in World War II. Her husband, John C. (Jay) Davis also preceded her in death. Flo was a tireless community volunteer and loved life and lived it well. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Survivors include her two daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda Cannon and Ted Henley of Port Bolivar, Texas; Paula Davis and Eric Bonner of Monroe, Ga.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. John F. and Pat Davis of Jackson, Ga.; James L. and Connie Davis of Monroe, Ga.; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; two sisters and brother-in-law, Anna Lee of Stone Mountain, Ga.; Minnie and Donald Baughcum of Conyers, Ga.; one brother-in-law, Bill Talton, wife, Dot, of Chipley, FL; one sister-in-law, Ellen Speir of Jackson, Ga.; as well as a host of friends both in Georgia and Texas.

A memorial celebration of Flo's life will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Val Verde Baptist Church in Groves with visitation with the family following the service. Dr. Brent Stancil, Flo's grandson, will officiate.

A memorial celebration of Flo's life will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Wages Funeral Home in Snellville. The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 11a.m. at the funeral home. Officiating will be Dr. Alan Baughcum, Dr. John Davis and Dr. Brent Stancil.

The family is asking in lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions be made to the newly established education scholarship fund in honor of Jay and Flo. All gifts should be made directly to the fund, John and Flo Davis Education Scholarship and mailed to Post Office Box 323, Port Bolivar, Texas 77650. Mother had been helping several deserving young people and we believe she would be happy to know that her work continues in this manner.

Wages Funeral Home of Snellville is in charge of arrangements.

Monday, August 25, 2008, from St. E Hospital in Beaumont

Thanks to each of you for your love and concern at this difficult time. Mother remains in a non-responsive condition here at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont since the massive stroke that hit on Wednesday, August 13.

We have since learned that along with the stroke, she suffered a heart attack and 12-14 ensuing seizures, all caused by a large brain tumor that no one knew she had. The tumor has been identified as a GBM, Stage 4 and has already grown a secondary tumor. The team of doctors have said that no one could have survived the impact it had on her body as all systems were shut down. Surgery or treatment was not an option even for a much younger person.

Mother had very clear instructions including a strong DNR and living will and would not want to be kept alive in this state without hope. She loved life and had lived it well and was active and busy up to the exact time the stroke happened.

We have been by her side for this 12 long days she has lived without the aid of machines or medicine except for the extreme pain caused by the tumor. She was placed into hospice care last Monday and everyone is literally amazed that she is still breathing.

The family has today created the John and Flo Davis Education Scholarship to help deserving students obtain further education. Mother was very attuned to the needs of young people having been widowed with a child to rear before she was 21 years of age. We are asking our friends and family members to donate to this scholarship, which we believe will make Daddy and Mother both very happy at the appropriate time in lieu of flowers. Further details will be forthcoming as soon as the legal paperwork and bank account has been set up.

Tomorrow is her big 87th birthday and we all know Mother loved to celebrate every occasion, so I have personally come to believe that she is hanging out waiting for the day and I would not be surprised at all if she went home a little after midnight. After all, it would be pretty cool to go home on the same day you came into the world, don't you think? Mother always liked a little excitement.

Please pray for us. It has been a difficult journey and the feeling of helplessness is overpowering at times.

We love and appreciate you.

Until the next page turns,

Brenda

Monday Morning, August 25, 2008 from St. E Hospital in Beaumont

Mother continues to fight her battle, but is losing ground hourly. She has been 12 days today in a severely non-responsive state from a massive stroke following prayer meeting on Wednesday evening, August 13. The stroke, heart attack, and the 12-14 seizures she suffered were all caused by a large cancerous brain tumor that no one had any idea she had. Her doctors have now told us that it is a GBM, Stage 4, very aggressive tumor that could likely not have been stopped in a much younger person. The first large tumor has also spawned a second smaller growth and no surgery could be done because of age and various complications. Every system in her once lively body were shut down by the massive stroke.

Tomorrow is her 87th birthday and she does love to celebrate any occasion, so I have personally come to believe she might be waiting for that day to come. She has been 12 days without one bite of food, not one drop of water and no one here has any idea of how she is still breathing.

She had very clear DNR instructions, a good living will and all of her family had been told numerous times she did not want to be kept alive by machines, so we have done our very best to honor her wishes. It is very difficult to stand by and watch while fighting feelings of extreme helplessness. It is hard on the children who simply feel she should be fed and given water. Her medical team has stated clearly that either would kill her immediately because her brain can no longer tell her body how to process intake, so we wait.

Thanks to each of you for your heartfelt expressions of love and support. We appreciate the food, cards, emails, calls and visits and have once again felt the value of friendship and love. Today, we have created the John and Flo Davis Education Scholarship to help deserving students obtain funding for school. Mother loved young people and was very busy helping several students at the time of her illness. We are asking that family and friends kindly help the children and grandchildren with that project in lieu of flowers now or in the coming days. More information will be posted with complete details.

Thank you for your interest and concern.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Sunday, August 24, 2008

My mother, Flo Davis, continues to surprise everyone including her doctors, the hospice team and the family members, by continuing to fight for her life. This is the 11th day in CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital after we were told initially that she would not live 6-8 hours after suffering the massive stroke on Wednesday, August 13.

She has now lived 11 days without any food or one drop of water. She is only breathing and nothing else appears to be working correctly. The doctor said the stroke, caused by a large cancerous brain tumor that had been growing for quite some time, also caused a heart attack, 12-14 seizures and the complete shut-down of her body.

She is totally non-responsive and has been in hospice care since Monday. We can only wait and sit with her.

It is a very difficult situation because she was so full of life and has lived her 86 years well. She will be 87 on Tuesday, August 26 and was looking forward to a bang-up birthday celebration.

Thank you for your many calls, emails, text messages, cards and visits. One can only know how many friends he or she has at a time like this. It is very difficult for my mother's two sisters, back in Georgia, Aunt Anna and Aunt Minnie and for my brothers, John and J, L. and my sister, Paula, who are also in the Atlanta area.

Please keep on praying for each of us at this very difficult time in our lives. She is getting excellent care and was homesick for heaven since my dad died some six years ago now.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 from CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital

My mom, Flo Ella Cannon Davis, had a massive stroke after prayer meeting last Wednesday and was rushed by ambulance to the trauma emergency room of St. E's here in Beaumont. We later learned that along with the major stroke, she also had a large brain tumor (cancerous) that had been growing for quite some time. She also has a secondary tumor on the brain and suffered a heart attack at the same time the tumor's growth caused the first stroke. She has now had some 12-14 seizures (again caused by the tumor) since being here.

The doctors met with us on Sunday and gave us the results of the battery of tests she has undergone and because she is 86 years of age and has multiple problems, they do not feel she can survive any surgery and they insisted that the damage from the stroke has already been done. She has not been able to eat any food or drink a drop of water for a week today. Swallowing, chewing, balance and so many other things were destroyed by the stroke. The tumor is a GBM, stage 4, very aggressive cancer.

We were moved from the 2nd floor to the 4th for comfort care. No medical procedures or programs are being administered. She had a strong living will and a clear DNR order on file. They told us on Sunday that she had about five days to live if all remains the same.

She was placed into Hospice care on Monday, but we were able to remain here in St. E's because the projected time is so short.

She is non-responsive much of the time and she sleeps many hours, but does awaken from time to time and asks for a particular person, talks about an event in her life, sees her husband who died six years ago, my grandmother and grandfather and others who were/are important in her life. Her husband and my dad for most of my life died in Hospice care and we have nothing but good things to say about it. Some of us are with her at all times.

Please pray for my mom and for my family during this time in our lives.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Coming to Atlanta...soon

I am so excited today! Ted and I will be traveling next to the Atlanta area in early September to attend the rehearsal dinner and wedding for my nephew, Jonathan Gravitt. My sister, Paula, has kept me posted on all of the details and we can't wait to meet everyone there.

Jon is marrying Jenny Coffer of Tucker, Georgia.

Ted and I are staying with Millie Jones Pincus in her lovely home in Lawrenceville and she promises that several of my school classmates and friends will be coming over for some get togethers. We must get busy on serious planning for our big 50th class reunion in 2010.

Note to best buds...Let me know when you are free to visit.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Still have tons of photos and mementos from recent trip to West Texas, Amarillo, the High Plains and other points west as soon as I can get caught up again.

"Ginger, do you remember this?"

While visiting the amazing Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas, (which, by the way, is one of the finest museums I've ever visited), the grandboys discovered a section of old cars that helped to form our lives as young people.

Ginger, do you remember my fine old "Miss Tess" as I do your marvelous "Miss Maude?" It was like stepping back in time!

Enjoy the old memories and let's not forget the old paths we've trodden.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

Wednesday, August 6, from the beach...

Hello Friends and Family,

We arrived back at the beach from our month long visit to Amarillo and points between and Steven and Brendan had a few fine days on the beach before going home to the Nashville area.. On Friday, we drove them to Nashville where they had to begin 6th and 8th grade today. Ted and I returned to Bolivar Peninsula just in time to welcome Tropical Depression/Hurricane Edouardo, which turned out not to hit us hard this time. We had high winds of about 50-60 mph here on the beach and some rain, but nothing like the destruction caused by Rita, for which we are very happy. Thanks sincerely to each friend and family member who called or wrote to check on our welfare.

Ted and I ventured out yesterday afternoon and drove along the Peninsula and other than water gathered in some ditches, we only saw two poles down with one live wire and a few outbuildings toppled over due to the storm. The predictors were fearing a storm surge of sea water, but as far as we know, that did not happen here. The storm made landfall at High Island on our beloved Peninsula, but Port Arthur and Groves also got some wind and rain out of it, along with some power outage as well. Thank God, we missed the bad brunt of this one. Hurricane watching is the price we pay for living on the beach year round.

We have many new photographs to post and lots of reports on our travels as soon as time permits.

Until the next page turns,
Brenda

My son, Dr. John Stancil (Brent) is speaking in a revival service at Rosebud Baptist Church in Loganville, Georgia this week. Attached is a picture of dear old friends, Kay Hicks Daniell, DeAnna Stancil Davis, my daughter, and Pam Hicks Gresham, who were there for the services.

Fuel for the Fire for August 2008

By Brenda Cannon Henley
Senior Correspondent for The Examiner

August 1 – “I was told I could be anything I wanted to be if I wanted it badly enough. I believed them.” - Barbara Jones Slater

August 2 – “Hard work gives life meaning.” - Oseola McCarty

August 3 – “Everyone needs to work hard at something to feel good about themselves.” - Oseola McCarty

August 4 – “Every job can be done well and every day has its own satisfactions.” Oseola McCarty

August 5 – “Average is your biggest enemy.” - Pearce “Rocky” Lane

August 6 – “If there are not great values behind great victories, the victories are pointless.” - Greg Sgrosso

August 7 – “Life is tons of discipline.” – Robert Frost

August 8 – “If a man does his very best, what else is there?’ - George Patton

August 9 – “You build a successful life a day at a time.” - Lou Holtz

August 10 – “Let perseverance by your engine and hope your fuel.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

August 11 – “As a coach I tell kids that whether you win or lose, act like a winner. Hold your head up high. Winning isn’t everything, but trying to win is everything.” – Pete Cava

August 12 – “All the acts of generosity and kindness that we extend to others eventually makes a circle and comes back to us. The Bible reminds us, ‘as we sow, so shall we reap.’” – Lucinda Williams Adams

August 13 – “If you take one step, God will take two.” - Lucinda Williams Adams

August 14 – “My words of wisdom to young people go like this: If you’re going to work at something, no matter if it’s cleaning out a trash can or running a race, do a god job. I can’t imagine doing anything and not doing my best.” – Betty Vosburgh

August 15 – “We’re never to old to learn new skills and polish the ones we have.” - Betty Vosburgh

August 16 – “My coach said, ‘Believe in yourself. Run with heart and put the rest aside.’ It’s amazing how your body responds to your thoughts.”

August 17 – “The importance of winning is not what we get from it, but what we become because of it.” - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

August 18 – “Champions learn how to reach down deep for that extra reserve of spirit and pride in what they are doing.” - Carlette Guidry

August 19 – “People complain all the time about how busy they are, but there is time enough for all the things that a person really wants to do.” - Oseola McCarty

August 20 – “We are responsible for the way we use our time on this earth, so I try hard to be a good steward.” - Oseola McCarty

August 21 – “Usefulness often outlasts style.” - Oseola McCarty

August 22 – “A smart person always plans for the future.” - Oseola McCarty

August 23 – “I know people who don’t know God just can’t understand that He’s real.” – Oseola McCarty

August 24 – “The greatest lesson of faith that I know is that you have to be willing to grow in grace. You have to be willing to start at the beginning and become like a little child.” – Oseola McCarty

August 25 – “You have to accept God the best way you know how and then He’ll show Himself to you. And the more you serve Him, the more able you are to serve Him.” - Oseola McCarty

August 26 – “I believe the way we live matters, not just for now but for always. There is an eternal side to every single thing we do.” – Oseola McCarty

August 27 – “My mother lived her life as an example before me and taught me the difference between right and wrong. She also taught me the consequences of misbehaving.” - Oseola McCarty

August 28 – “Most of the children we see take their habits from the mother and father.” – Oseola McCarty (What are you parenting to your children today?)

August 29 – “It is important to make special memories with the people you love most.” - Oseola McCarty

August 30 – “Teachers can give children something to hold onto or a new way of seeing the world.” – Oseola McCarty