- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- A Celebration of Life for Pouran Mahmoodi Davis, May 25, 1918 - August 29, 2004, Thursday, September 9, 2004, 11:30 am, Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W. 76th Street, New York, New York 10023, Rev. Dr. Paula Whatley Matabane, Officiant
- Date of Original:
- 2004-09-09
- Subject:
- African American women--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--New York (State)--New York---History--20th century
Funeral service--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century
Mourning customs--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century
African Americans--New York (State)--New York--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, New York, New York County, New York, 40.7142691, -74.0059729
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Pouran Mahmoodi Mahmoodi Davis. Birth date: May 25, 1918. Death date: August 29, 2004. Funeral date: September 9, 2004. Church: Riverside Memorial Chapel (New York, N.Y.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 468
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_davispouranmahmoodi20040909
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_davispouranmahmoodi20040909
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
Alex Cowherd Paul Davis Dale Griffin
Cyrus Mahmoodi Suzanne Mahmoodi Lynn Whatley, Sr.
"Sand and Foam"
My house says to me
"Do not leave me, for here dwells your past. " And the road says to me,
"Come andfollow me, for I am your future." . And I say to both my house and the road
HI have no past, nor have I a future.
IfI stay here, there is a going to my staying, And ifI go, there is a staying in my going.
Only love and death change all things. "
- Khalil Gibran -
A c k n o w l e dg ements
The family ofPouran Mahmoodi Davis extends its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to friends and associates
f or all your expressions oflove and kindness during this period ofbereavement. May God continue to bless you in great abundance.
Repast
All are invited to a light repast today from 4:00-7:00pm at the Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center, 80 LaSalle Street, New York, NY 10027.
Arrangements By
Riverside Memorial Chapel 180 W. 76th Street
New York, New York 10023
t ;"A Celebration ofLife" ,
for
Pouran Mahmoodi Davis
Thursday, September 9, 2004 11:30 am
Riverside Memorial Chapel 180 W. 761h Street
New York, New York 10023 Rev. Dr. Paula Whatley Matabane,
Officiant
L ~:i:~!. n~::t Mahmoodi Davis was
1918 in Astara, Iran,
Caspian Sea to a Russian mother, Luba Rahimoff (later Latifeh Mahmoodi)
and Iranian father, Moussa Mahmoodi. Pouran loved to tell how her mother
escaped the Bolshevik revolution by going to Iran where she married an
Iranian through the services of a professional matchmaker. Pouran was the
couple's only child. The family eventually moved to Tehran, where her mother
worked as a medical doctor running her own clinic, and her father worked as a
customs officer.
As a child, Ponran enjoyed attending an all-girls Catholic French school called Jeanne D'Arc (Joan of Arc). Describing herself as a "fighter", Pouran arranged to study library science in the United States in the 1950's and quickly landed a job at the Iranian embassy in Washington, D.C. as a librarian and coordinator of Iranian students studying in the U.S. Upon her retirement from the Foreign Service in the 1970's, the Iranian government awarded Pouran a special citation and medal for outstanding and loyal service.
In the early 1970's, Pouran met and married the love of her life, George W.C. Davis, a chemist at Merck & Co. They met on a Caribbean cruise and, after marriage, traveled across five continents as avid consumers of international cultures. They were active members of The Riverside Church, regularly attending the church's theater, concerts, and lectures. Pouran was also a member of Riverside's French club where she maintained fluency in the French language.- Pouran easily adapted to George's southern African American roots while celebrating her Iranian culture in their home decor, as well as by entertaining friends with delicious Iranian food, participating in Iranian social clubs, and respecting her faith tradition as a Muslim. Pouran Mahmoodi Davis was a wonderfully unique individual and world citizen.
Reflecting on her daring boldness to travel abroad alone as a young woman from a country where women's rights and activities were curtailed, Pouran strongly identified with her mother' s courage in seeking a new life and freedom. That same strength sustained her after George' s death in 1995 and through failing health.
Survivors of Pouran Mahmoodi Davis include members of her late husband's family: Ruth J. Davis, Frances D. Whatley (Warren), Paul D. Davis (Doris), Walter Goldston, WarrenS. Whatley, Jr., Lynn H. Whatley, Sr. (Anita), Paula W. Matabane, Kerry D. Pitcher (Dale Griffin), Warren S. Whatley III, Mashadi I. Matabane, Lynn H. Whatley, Jr., Jamin D. Whatley, and Kyle Pitcher.
Pouran Mahmoodi Davis is also survived by her Iranian family members: Iraj Mahmoodi, Fereydoun Mahmoodi, Marie J. Mahmoodi, Francois Bani-Sadr, Cyrus E. Mahmoodi, Suzanne Mahmoodi, and Theodore D. Mahmoodi.
Along with a host of friends and associates, the family recognizes and t:han:ksJ Eunice Mangal and Shandi Singh -- loyal caregivers and close companions of ~Pouran throughout her illness.
Song of Celebration............. ................... Andre Solomon-Glover, Baritone "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"
Sacred Readings Psalm 23 .... ... .......................... ........ .......... .. ...Lynn H. Whatley, Sr. "On Death" ............................................... ..... .Mashadi I. Matabane
Acknowledgements and Announcements......... ...... ... .Kerry D. Pitcher
Words of Condolence........ ............. ........... ..... ....... ...Family and Friends
Meditation . ..... ................ ................. ........ .....Silent reading ofObituary
Words of Comfort............ .. ... ............ ..... .. ...Rev. Dr. Paula W. Matabane
Song of Victory.. ................ ............ ........Andre Solomon-Glover, Baritone "This Little Light ofMine"
Benediction
Pecession
Interment Kensico Cemetery Valhalla, Westchester, New York