Rheda Davis, of Greenville, Texas passed to her eternal rest on November 13, 2016 at Baylor Hospital, following a brief battle with Leukemia. Mrs. Davis was born Rheda Faye Smith in Nevada, Texas and was the second of three daughters of Van N. Smith and Virgie O. (Rickman) Smith on August 22, 1931. She is survived by her husband Robert D. Davis, her sisters Doris Jean Moore of Princeton and Linda Jane Hess of Farmersville and a host of cousins, in-laws, nephews, nieces, beloved friends and her church family at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville.
Rheda chose a life of bringing people together, not only in her 31 year professional career as an employee of Southwestern Bell in Dallas (where she was honored as a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America), but also in her service and dedication to family, faith and numerous patriotic and historical societies and organizations. In particular, she had a passion for genealogy and remembrances of loved ones, tirelessly investigating both her own family tree, assisting others with their efforts to discover their roots and co-authoring 4 books documenting her genealogical research. These passions also lead her to join and serve as integral member and officer in a variety of genealogical and patriotic societies and organizations, to include the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Descendants of George Washington’s Army at Valley Forge, National Society-Colonial Dames XVII Century, the Huguenot Society of Texas, the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia, the Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims, the National Society of Daughters of the American Colonists, the First Families of Tennessee, the First Families of Franklin, Tennessee and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was also a supporter of and historian for the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas.
By bringing together the often frayed threads of her own lineage and that of others and honoring the memories of those who came before, she built a legacy of friendships, service and love that will stand as an enduring testament to her life.
That life will be celebrated at Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 with Dr. Chet Haney and Rev. Royce Litchfield officiating. Services are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Caddo Mills I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 P.M., Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Bosie Boswell, Larry Branscum, Cliff Edwards, Don Hall, Kenneth Kluttz and Amos Lowry. Honorary pallbearers will be Marvin Flowers, Lee Gayle, Lee Harp, Leo Hill, Benny Stapp and Charles West.