January 27th, 2023, 95, Calypso –
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15
Lola Mae Sutton Davis, longtime resident of Calypso, N.C., and recently of Hillside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wake Forest, N.C. passed gently into the night on January 27th, 2023. After battling asthma and diabetes for years, and a massive heart attack in 2016, she is now with Jesus and pain-free in her new glorified body. While living at Hillside she contracted COVID during the 2020 pandemic and was not expected to survive, but survive she did and lived another two-plus years despite complications from COVID and later from pneumonia.
Born on July 23, 1927, in the family store in Calypso, N.C., she grew up and lived in Calypso for the next 89 years of her life. In February of 1947 she married the great love of her life, Adrian (Fuzz) Davis.
Mrs. Davis attended Calypso Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School and was church pianist/choir director and treasurer until its closure. For many years she was the bank manager for the Calypso branch of the Bank of Mt. Olive and thereafter Southern Bank and Trust, and First Citizens. Following her retirement, she and Adrian spent most of their time in their trailer on Topsail Island, where she was a member of the Topsail Island Fishing Club, winning many trophies for the largest fish category and also first mullet of the year, usually much to the chagrin of Adrian. She was an avid ACC basketball fan and loved watching the “Big Four” play on TV, especially Duke.
She is preceded in death by her parents, J.D.O. and Sallie Sutton; two brothers, Wescott (infant) and Owen; and Adrian, her husband of 64 years. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law John A. (J.A.) and Margaret Davis of Wake Forest, N.C.; three grandchildren, Jeffrey Davis and wife Ramona of Humble, TX; Jonathan Davis and wife Mary of Southlake, TX; Jennifer Ellinger of Raleigh, N.C.; eight great-grandchildren; Maria, Jacob, and Marcus Davis of Humble; Kamper, Lacy, and Palmer Davis of Southlake; and Holden and Mallory Ellinger of Raleigh; and several special nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Hillside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care and friendship their extended to Lola during her almost seven-year residency.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 1, at 11 a.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home in Mount Olive. Officiating will be the Rev. Bill Slater. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m.
A grave-side service for family will be at Calypso cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to Adrian.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, or the Calypso Fire Department in her memory.
