To Remember Dovey, Lovely, Lively, Creative Spirit

Circa 1977, Cornell University
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Dovey Madeline Davis had lived a full life by the time she was diagnosed as having Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 50. Yet, her vitality and energy seemed to assure her longevity.
Dovey was our sister, aunt and grand-aunt. Her life brought so much joy to ours that we want people to know of her existence for generations to come . There will never be another Dovey. However, to remember her active, short and full life is to ensure that she will continue to inspire all who come in contact with her story.
She was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Madeline Smith Davis and Philip M. Davis, Sr. on October 27, 1928 in the William A. Harris Memorial Hospital on West Hunter Street, N.W. She was baptized by Reverend E. R. Carter at Atlanta's historic Friendship Bapist Church. She grew up along with her two brothers, Philip M. Davis, Jr., and Griffith J. Davis, on Spelman College's campus where their father worked as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds.
After Philip, Sr.'s sudden death in 1939, her mother found work as a dormitory mother at Atlanta University. The school did

1929 - Dovey at 5 m onth_;.:.

1924-1939 - Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds home on Spelman Campus.

1940 - At father's passing Davis family prepares to leave campus home.

not allow her to keep Dovey with her. So, she sent her to stay with her sisters, Auntie Lora Cobb and Dovey Brooks in Birmingham, Alabama. Dovey's oldest brother, Philip, was finishing Morehouse College while her other brother, Griffith, was soon entering the college dormitories.
Dovey graduated from the Graymont Public Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama in May. 1941 . She went on to attend Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina until graduating on June 2, 1946. Her yearbook described her as "Miss Senior", Most Amusing", "Class Optimist", and "Most Talented". She bequeathed to a junior classmate "her ability to get along with people." These were some of the traits Dovey carried throughout her life.
Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, PMI's President, wrote the following to Dovey's mother on May 22, 1946: "You sent me a wonderful little girl, and I think I am returning to you a fine little lady. You did a job that many parents have failed to do and we didn't have to do much to keep her going in the right direction."
Dovey received a B.A. degree in Home Economics from Howard University in 1950. Her schoolmates crowned her their 1949 "Miss Howard". She was one of 24 Howardites to be listed in the 1949-50 edition of "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges".
She graduated fromNew York University on October 26, 1953 with a M.A. degree in Home Economics in Education. As a graduation gift from her brother, Griffith, she sailed on a Dutch . freighter to Liberia to visit his family and to see a bit of the outside world before she "settled down to the work world".
Her visit to Liberia opened a whole new world to her. She quickly fell in love with the country and the people. Liberia became her adopted home for 23 years. She married two Liberians: Joseph Walker in 1954 and Emmett Harmon in 1957. She raised numerous stepchildren, including Emmett Harmon, Jr., and travelled to over 23 countries around the world.

1933- Dovey at 5 years. Kelly Studio photograph.
1937- R everend E. R. Carter baptizes Dovey at Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta.

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From 1956 to 1966, she was proprietor of Dovey's Cards and Pipes Shop in Monrovia, Liberia. It was an import and export business featuring merchandise from Europe, the Middle and Far East and the United States.
As a volunteer effort between 1965 and 1967, Dovey was curator of the non-profit, Gallery I, in Monrovia. This gallery exhibited and sold the artwork of both expatriate and Liberian artists.
From 1966 to 1968, she broadcast a daily half-hour segment of "African Panorama" over the Voice of America shortwave radio of the United States Information Agency. From 1968 to 1971, she served as Special Assistant to the country's First Lady, Mrs. Antoinette Tubman. She was Mrs. Tubman's liaison to over one thousand members of the local Social Services Association; the forerunner of a full Ministry of Human Welfare.
Dovey was very generous to her family and friends. She and her husband, Emmett, frequently sent trans-Atlantic plane tickets to friends in the United States and Europe to come visit them in Liberia, particularly at the times of the gala Presidential inaugurations. When they visited New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly meetings and other occasions, they invited close friends throughout the U.S. to join them for diplomatic receptions in their Waldorf Towers suite.
Upon President William V. S. Tubman's death in 1971, Dovey returned to the United States to become a 1977 doctoral candidate in Community Service Education at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. As an offshoot of her doctoral program, she conducted a country survey on "The Role of Home Economics in Family Planning: Liberia" that was published in 1972 under an Agency for International Development grant to the American Home Economics Association. She also attended the famous Bogue summer workshop at the Community and Family Study Center of The University of

Dovey (5), Griffith (JO)and Philip (15). Kelly Studio.
1884-1939- Dovey'sfather, Philip M . Davis, Sr.

1946- Dovey and her mother, Madeline Davis, on Graduation Day at Palmer near Sedalia, North Carolina.
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1942 - Dovey and brother, Gr(ffirh in Birmingham.

1950- Dovey Madeline Davis, B.A., Howard University.

~!i$~iciimif
24 -,fiO~a~dltes

'Make Who'sWho

.'

- - - . .

I .. . ~.; -~ --~

Twenty-four students at Howa rd

-University_ will be listed in : the

19,9-50 edition of' "Who':; Who

.Among Stude nts in American Un!.-

versities and Colleges," it was :re-

y ealed la st w eek by Dr. Armour .!.

Blackburn, dean of students.

"From the standpoint of path

scholarship and extra-curricularac-

.tivltles, the young men and womeri

selected for this hc.nor are the

most outstanding student:> at the

university,"Dean BlackbUl n state:d . ,The "Who's '\\1ho" bbol ~, which

contains biographies of ou1 standing

students in universiti~ an d colleges

t hr()ug h out . th e countt-y, h sent t .:.

import an t b u~ in e ssroen ant[ organ ..

.zati ons as an a id i{l. the p lacement

of college grad\la1'es . tri industry. .

'STUDENTS NAMED

...

-

T he follow in g ~unior and. senio1;

.studen t s were elected for inclusion

in "Who's W h o":

Caryl M . Barnes of Norfolk, .Va.;

R ita. M. Barn es of Reading, .:Pa. ;

Ramona G. Baslerville of Cha iIes-

t on, W. Va .; Maurice D. Bean of

Gary, I nd.; J ames C. B r uie .of

Washington, D . C . ; Au r eli a ,A.

chaney of Danvilie, Va.; Melba I;:

Chloe of Manassas, Va.; Jeanette

-Conliffe of vvashingtoP-, D. C.; ~

~- M Dalts ~ . Godfrey.e

A tl;:I!Pta Ca:"tro

pG f ~oad~'

town, Tortola, B. V\. I.; Flora. y.

Dorsey of Philadelphia,; Pa.: James
A. Emanuel of Denve1:; Col._; R~lph

,A. .Erwin of BaltimC'Ire, Md.; R~gt

aald C. Ha:Ie of New . York, . . .:

Flora E. ' Haley of Rankin, ::Pa. j

Louis J. Johnson of Eouston, Tex.;

T: Napoleon Johnson of New York,f

Otto

Jordan of Washingto~;

D. C.; .Edward G. Lopei of :aartford, Corm.; Latunde .~. OdE:ku .o{

Lagos, Nigeria, Britist, West Afri-

-e&; Lincoln I. Oli\er of Char. Ama~

lie, Virgin Island~ ; Jos - ~pb H. Olli-

:vierre of P:Qiladelphia, Pa. ; Lou~.

stanley Paige of Brooklyn , N. :Y,f.i;'

:lya. ' William H. M : Re:ynolds .of Brook.:

N. Y.

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. .. . . :::.- FORTIETH_)N ~~:--:-

From The Pittsburgh Courier, December 31, 1949.

1948- Dovey leads Alpha Kappa Alpha pledgees in campus march and songs.
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Chi cag o on wo rld population problems. After co mpleting her coursework in Ithaca, New York, she spent th e entire year of 1976 conducting field research in Liberia on " The Role of Women Farmers as a Potential Human Resource in the Rural Development in Liberia : Lofa County".
Her intense interest in the role of women led her to become a member of the National Council of Negro Women's delegation to the 1975 International Women's Year World Conference and Tribune in Mexico City, the first of its kind sponsored by the United Nations. This was only one of a variety of conferences in which she was active.
However, her doctoral dissertation was never completed. In 1978, neurologists, double-checked by specialists at the National Institutes of Health, determined that she was afflicted with the incurable Alzheimer's disease.
Dovey was forced to retire to Washington, D.C., at the age of 50, to live with her brother Griffith. She subsequently entered personal care and nursing homes as her physical and mental condition declined from year to year.
Dovey had friends from all walks of life and from around the world. She belonged to many organizations during her lifetime,
1949 - "Miss Ho ward" steps through giant football at Coronation Ball for cro wning. 5

1957- Dovey, at Mother's retirement, poses for family photograph before taking her on European oceanliner tour.
including: the Order of the Eastern Star, Ruth Chapter 3, Since County, Liberia; the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, charter member of Zonta International; Corresponding Secretary of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the American Home Economics Association, Board Member of the Family Planning Association of Liberia, Cornell Association for Adult and Extension Educators, the World Population Society, and, in 1973, Vice President of the African Students Association at Cornell University. This last affiliation shows how intertwined Dovey's life had become with Africa and Africans.
To know and love Dovey was to know and love her family and friends. Here is what they have to say about her:
"She loved people and people loved her. When she entered a room, it lit up with her radiance and personality. I feel terribly sad about Dovey's condition and hope and pray that God will give her the tolerance to cope with such devastating neurophysical state of helplessness. I cherish my own memory of her as a lovely and lively person, full of creative energy and sensitive spirit and I am also proud to remain one of her close friends and human companions." (From a tribute to Dovey by Lattee Fahm, UN Official, who had known her in Liberia and the United States for more than 35 years.)
"I like the epitaph you have planned for Dovey. It described her perfectly. Each time I see her I think of what she used to say when she .was going out to have some fun. She would always say that when she got old and was sitting in the rocker, smiling, she knows the children would wonder
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Dovey travelled to 23 countries for business and social purposes Denmark France Germany Ghana Greece Holland Israel - 1Oth Anniversary Italy Ivory Coast Libya Liberia Mexico Morocco Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Spain Switzer Ia nd The Azores The Canary Islands The Gambia Tunisia United Kingdom
1957 - Aboard oceanliner, "lie de France': Dovey treated Mother to European and African trip upon her retirementfrom Howard University. They visited France, Switzerland, Germany, Tunisia and Liberia. Her niece Phyllis, on left, came to wish them "Bon Voyage".

1954 and 1957- Dovey married twice in Liberia to Joseph Walker and Emmett Harmon.
what old granny is smiling about. It was for those memories that she was going out to have some fun. Life is so uncertain. One must stay ready and live each day to the fullest." (From a letter to Dovey's family from her friend, Ruth Phillips).
"These are the friends who attended our 1990 class reunion (of the 4 75 who graduated in 1950). Of the 113 that attended, 61 reunioners knew Dovey well." (From Dovey's classmate, Hylda Puree, who attended the Howard University Class of 1950 Reunion.)

Emmett and Dovey lead the Grand MarcY. at Monrovia.

1961- Dovey stood as Matron ofHonor at wedding ofherfriends Merve!f Winzer and Pohlman Bracewell, Jr. The President of Liberia, William V. S. Tubman and Chief Justice Chesson officiated.
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The following comments are from her niece, Dorothy. "Dovey generated excitement wherever she went. It didn't matter whether her audience was old or young, strong or frail, poor or rich.
"She had a passion for life that was infectious to all. Her laughter pierced a room, no matter how empty or full of people it might have been. Her personality was like a magnet that drew people to her from around the world. Everyone knew that Dovey was a fun-loving person.
"Dovey was as unusual as her name. She always wanted to be dressed in the latest fashions or wear beautiful, but distinctive jewelry, or smell of the best fragrances of France or drive a sports car (like her pink Mustang) or be able to dance the latest dance or enjoy the latest music fad of the young. Dovey was always young in spirit .. . and did everything with flair.
" She believed in living life to its fullest everyday; almost as though s he could not co u nt on to m orrow. For th is re ason she was a ri sk t aker an d an independent thi nker. She start ed her on e business in Li be ria , Dovey's G ift Shop. She trave lled the worl d to get exactly th e items she wanted for her shop. He r life in Li ber ia and her trave ls t o diffe rent parts of the worl d made her becom e aware of the social problems of people, particularly, rural women in Africa.
"She was a person who believed in people and loved them for who they were. Even though Alzheimer's Disease eventually robbed her of her past and future, she fought it each step of the way until she could fight it no more. In the early stages, as her sentences became incomplete, she would communicate through her personality. A certain lift of her eyebrow or look from her eyes or twitching of her mouth let you know just how she felt. For, all of these facial expressons, were a part of Dovey's repertoire of communication. She could invoke laughter just with the turn of her brow.
"Dovey was and cont inu es to be an inspiration to all of us. We hope that those who hear about or read her story will also be inspired . To Dovey, we want to say that we love you and miss you . May you now rest in peace. "
There will never be another Dovey. Her active life was short, full and an inspiration to all who came in contact w ith her. R.I.P.
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1985 - Family shares birthday at nursing home.
1983 !
1983- Dovey mimics bronze sculpture by Henri Laurens in Wurtzburger garden of Baltimo re M useum of Art. At this point she could no longer speak.

1975- Dovey visited Mexico City with the delegation ofthe National Council ofNegro Women andparticipated in the International Women's Year World Conference and Tribune (June 18- July 2, 1975). She is shown in official conference photograph with Dr. Dorothy Height, NCNW National President and Ms. Ruth Sykes, NCNW Special Assistant.

Grand Bassa County, Liberia- As assistant to President 's wife, Dovey, with local officials, dedicate new water pump installed as rural development project.
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Friday, June 27, 1975 6:00P.M.
NCNW International Seminar Education and Training for new roles in development what is being done?
Panel of International Delegates Dovey Davis, Discussion Leader
Dovey Davis of Cornell University, opened the discussion on the topic "Education and Training in New Roles for Women, " by referring to the provisions of the World Plan ofAction related to the use ofeducation as a tool for social change in developing nations are at present facing urgent and pressing social and economic problems that demand solutions for the very survival and well-being of their country-persons. Such problems include lack offormal as well as nonformal education, unemployment, underemployment, mass poverty and hunger.

DOVEY'S LAST PROJECT1976
"Liberia was selected because of the special interest generated by twenty-three years of living in that country. The investigator had the opportunity to travel into the interior as a special assistant t0 the late president's wife. During these frequent visits on presidential councils to the rural area, the investigator noted f irst hand t he many problems of the women farmers. At the request of the president for the discussion of the needs, interests and problems of their developing country, these rural women were very vocal in expressing their inadequacies, attitudes, interests and needs as related to the improvement of themselves and their families . When the opportunity came for the investigation to pursue an advanced degree, the author was enco ur aged by the Li berian gover n m ent t o identify the co nstraints of the r ura l women in their special rural development programs and
possibly to make some recommendations for maximizing participation in rural development through home economic allied programs."

1976 - D ovey sp ent the entire year in remote rural Lofa County of Liberia conducting research fo r her do ctoral dissertation. She visited many village health clinics like the one shown above.
STATEMENT B Y D O VEY M. DAVIS in her Fundi-ng Proposal to the African-American Scholars Council, Washington, D. C. on April 28, 1975.
Dovey was a 1977 doctoral candidate in Community Service Education, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. She interviewed hundreds of rural women such as these crowded in a village health clinic with their children.
Photographs by Brenda Humphrey

VO/NJAMA - R esidents of villages in north west Liberia WOZI - R emote villages of Lofa County were reached by

build schools and clinics as p art of coun ty-wide self Dovey in 4- wheel drive vehicle and by foot. R esearch was

improvement program studied by Dovey in 1976.

required fo r Cornell University degree.

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1966-1968 - Dovey broadcasts daily half-hour segment of "African Panorama" over Voice of America shortwave transmitters beamed throughout Anglophone Africa. Niece Dorothy reviews script in VOA Monrovia studio.
1946 - Dr. Charlotte Ha wkins Brown bes tows High Sch oo l diploma upon Dover at Palmer Mem orial In stitute.
II

SURVIVORS
Two Brothers:
Philip M. Davis, Jr. and wife, Eloise, of Detroit
Griffith J. Davis and w ife, Estella, of At Ia nta and Appling
Two Nieces:
Phyllis C. Davis of Sacramento
Dorothy M. Davis-Joseph and husband, William, of Morristown, New Jersey
One Nephew:
Benjamin G. Davis and wife, Christina, of Paris, France
Four Grandnieces:
Beatrice Davis of Sacramento
Josette Davis of Sacramento
Anne-Laure Davis of Paris, France
Joelle Jihan Joseph of Morristown, New Jersey
G reat-G ra ndn ieee:
Tagen Anastasia Davis of Sacramento
Stepson:
Emmett Harmon, Jr. and wife, Cecily, of Wilmington and Monrovia, Liberia
INTERMENT
The Davis Family cemetery plot, Dovey's final resting place, is located across the road from the l-incoln Memorial Cemetery Chapel in Atlanta.

Circa 1965- Studio portrait study of Dovey M . Davis taken by Manning Studio, New York.
1968-1971 - Dovey in her Executive Mansion Office in Monrovia, Liberia. 12

Arrangements: Sellers Brothers Funeral Homes, Inc. 889 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, NW
Atlanta, GA 30314 and
Robert G. Mason Funeral Home, Inc. Washington, DC
Choral Music in the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery Chapel was recorded by the Saint Luke's Episcopal Church Choir, Washington, DC

"The "Solo for Bride's Aunt Dovey Madeline Davis" was a solo executed by a Ghanaian drummer named Emmanuel Quao all dressed in an elegant Kente cloth the traditional dress of that West African country.
Dovey lived in West Africa for approximately 20 years so her niece thought this was appropriate for her wedding. It was a moving tribute."
Presidential Woods Health Care Center Quarterly, 1988

Final Resting Place at The Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Atlanta, GA.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dovey's extended family thanks you for your prayers and concern for her particularly over the last decade or so as her dynamic self faded imperceptibly right before our eyes.
Some of you visited her at Mrs. Esther Jefferson's Personal Care Home in Capitol Heights, MD and later at the Presidential Woods Nursing Home in Adelphi, MD. Dovey had the best of care throughout her final afflicted journey. We can at least be thankful that she was comfortable during her last helpless years on earth.
If you wish to express some final tribute to Dovey please leave a flower on her grave in Atlanta when you visit there. You may also make a donation of Hope to the AD Research program, c/o Alzheimer's Association of Greater Washington, 7970-C Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 in her name.
The Davis Family 805 Rodney Drive, SW Atlanta, GA 30311