Zelma Lee Davis

Funeral services for Zelma Lee Davis, 89, who died Tuesday, February 8, 2005, will be held at 2 p. m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 501 North Main Street, Vidor, under direction of Memorial Funeral Home, with burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont. She had been a resident of Vidor since 1952. Survivors include two sisters, Pauline Davis and Mildred Brush, both of Vidor; one brother, A. W. Davis, Jr. and his wife, Golda, of Newton; five nephews; three nieces, and nine grand-nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be Richard Brush of Vidor, Robert Brush of Austin, Paul Brush of Austin, Thomas Davis of Newton, George Kula of Houston, and Lynn Davis of League City. Born in Roganville on June 22, 1915, to Atmar and Gertrude Davis, she grew up in Deweyville, where she graduated from high school in 1932. Zelma Lee received a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1942 and a Masters of Education from the University of Houston in 1950. After teaching 40 years, she retired in 1976 from Beaumont Independent School District, which named her the district’s nominee for the 1966 Texas Teacher of the Year. She taught seven years in Roganville, one in Newton, and 32 in Beaumont’s Junker and French Elementary Schools. She loved people, especially children, and loved teaching, which she said she was “family inspired” to do since both parents, her father’s seven brothers and sisters, and her mother’s only sister taught. Active in Classroom Teachers Association and Parent-Teachers Association, she was also active in community, church, and professional organizations. In 1960 she was named Woman of the Year by the Beaumont Business and Professional Women’s Club for rendering outstanding service during the year. She held a Life Membership in the Wesleyan Guild No. 2 of First Methodist Church of Beaumont and was a charter member of Texas Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Vidor. Special thanks go to church members, friends, caregivers, and Odyssey Hospice Care. Memorial contributions may be made to the church, Alzheimer’s Association, or Hospice Care.

Cemetery:
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Pine St. Beaumont, TX (map/driving directions)

Visitation:
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor 1750 Hwy Vidor, TX on February 9, 2005 (map/driving directions) Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor 1750 Hwy Vidor, TX (map/driving directions)

Service:
2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church Main St. Vidor, TX 77662 on February 10, 2005 (map/driving directions)