Obituary of Ida M. Davis

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Ida Mariam McGill Davis was born November 11, 1944 in Kingstree, South Carolina to the late Esther Belle Ervin and Burgess McGill. She was the 8th of their 10 children. She attended and was baptized at St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kingstree, SC. She was educated in the public schools of Kingstree, SC and Rochester, New York. In 1955, a few years after the passing of her father Burgess, her mother Esther moved their family to Rochester, NY, where she lived until she departed this life on March 19, 2023.

In 1960, she married Cornell Davis, Sr. and to that union were born a daughter Devilion and three sons Cornell, Jr., Calvis, and Burgess. Ida also raised her grandson Jason. After the passing of her husband, she met partner Derek Clark, with whom she continued raising her family and built a wonderful life for more than 20 years until his passing in 1997.

Ida loved to cook and bake and made lots of dishes and deserts for family and others celebrations, cookouts and other special events. Pound cakes, sweet potato pies, collard greens and fried chicken were some of her most requested foods. For at least two decades, she was an integral part of the Scott-McGill family reunion meal preparation team with her sisters and brothers. They catered the family’s fish fries, banquets, cookouts, Thanksgiving dinners at Uncle Weaver’s house in Kingstree and more in South Carolina and Washington, DC. Folks always looked forward to her Dirty Rice!

Ida lived her life as a devoted Christian who always helped anyone in need. Working in social services, she helped improve others lives with community organizations, one of which was Action for a Better Community. She assisted with a variety of projects including home weatherization. She later moved on to nursing care working as a Healthcare Provider and ended her 20 year career as a Hospice Caregiver retiring from Visiting Nurses Services. Ida was incredibly resourceful. If she didn’t have something someone needed or couldn’t handle a task herself she got on her phone and found a way to make it happen! She made the food arrangements for numerous repasts for mourning families, which she continued even while hospitalized until just a few weeks before her transition.

Ida was very family oriented, always made anywhere she lived a home and took pride in making people feel welcome. Her home was open for family members to stay a while and she made sure everyone was fed a good meal. An incredible caregiver, she enjoyed assisting those who were differently-abled. She spent many years caring for others including William and Cassie, who she cared for almost 20 year. After taking them both into her home and taking care of their needs, they each became a part of the family and attended family reunions and gatherings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Nathene McGill Rich, Eda May McGill, Lila Annette McGill McDowell, Sherry Ann McGill Jamison, Mary Cunningham Williams, Alafair Cunningham Cooper, and brothers Isaac McGill and Doward Cunningham.

She leaves to cherish her memory daughter Devilion Davis; Sons Cornell Davis, Jr., Calvis Davis, Burgess Davis, and Jason (Myisha) Davis; Grandchildren Vernon Davis, LaShawnda Johnson, Brandon Davis, Imari Davis, Brittney Brown, Qayyim Davis, Infiniti Davis, Destini Davis, Niner Davis, Cornell Davis III, Jasmine Davis, Calvis Lee Davis, Makunda Davis, Nafatarie Martin, Empress Martin, Jahearl Martin, Kijanna Martin, Melchizedeke Martin Davis; Great-grandchildren Jah-Rod Davis, Jae-Lah Davis, Joi-Leana Davis, DeVonn Johnson Jr., DaeShawn Johnson, DaVionn Johnson, Kingston M-Powell, Ida-Rose M-Powell, Brandon Davis Jr., Nyomi Davis, Xymani Howard, Rakeem Lane Jr., Brazil Davis, Roy’ale Spiva, King Davis, Markell Brown Jr., Jezreel Brown, Orchid Rose Davis, Lotus Rose Davis, Jay’la Davis, Jah’nell Davis, Brayden Davis, Braden Lee Davis, Amira Boykin, Amir Boykin, Nhazir Martin, Jahzir Martin, Zaiani Martin, Zariah Martin, Jamari Martin, Jahearl Martin Jr., Ahmad Peart, Kaysan Evans, Kajah Dukes, Yahmel Martin Davis, Kamel Martin Davis; Great great-grandchildren Kace Dukes, Kali Dukes, Kashton Dukes; Siblings Raleigh (Ruth) McGill, Sam McGill, Herman McGill, Patricia McGill White; Brother-in-law Preston Jamison; Aunt Nellie Cooper McGill; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.