Pearl Davis

Pearl Eveline Stephenson Davis passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2018, at The Oaks at Mayview in Raleigh, NC. Born in the Pleasant Grove township in Johnston County, Pearl was the daughter of James Edward and Lula Florence Austin Stephenson. She was the youngest of twelve children. Pearl was married for 49 years to Roland E. Davis, formerly associated with Brown-Wynne Funeral Home for many years as a funeral director and who died in 1994. In addition, her son Stephen Davis is also an employee of Brown-Wynne, Mitchell and Apex Funeral Homes. Pearl graduated from Cleveland School in Johnston County. She then trained and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Dorothea Dix Hospital. During World War II, she supported the American war effort in Carrboro, NC at the munitions factory. After the war, she accompanied Roland to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he pursued and received his degree at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1948. In 1958, she joined the Farmer's Cooperative Exchange as an accounting technician and worked there until her retirement in 1983. Roland and Pearl joined Longview Baptist Church when they moved to Raleigh in 1953, and she has been a faithful member ever since. Pearl was a truly gifted cook who was known for her peanut brittle and sour cream pound cake, and she was equally talented as a gardener who loved growing heirloom peonies, iris, and azaleas. Surviving are her son Stephen and his husband,Jim Burnette, Jr. of Raleigh, NC; daughter Sandra Davis Mangum and her husband Geri of Garner, NC; granddaughter Lauren Davis Krueger and her husband William of Raleigh, NC; grandson Cameron Mangum of Wilmington, NC; and grandson Michael Mangum and his wife Melissa of Willow Spring, NC. Also surviving are three great-grandchildren: Mason and Matthew Mangum, and Ila Eveline Krueger. Pearl will be forever remembered by many nieces and nephews whom she loved so much. A service of resurrection and celebration of life is planned for 11:00 am, Thursday, February 22, 2018, at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC. The family will receive friends following the service. The committal service will be at 2:00 pm at Raleigh Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Longview Baptist Church Building Fund, 2308 New Hope Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27604. The family deeply appreciates the compassionate, loving care from Dr. James Parsons and the nurses and nursing assistants at The Oaks at Mayview. Condolences may be made through brownwynne.com