Mary F. Davis

Mary Frank Nicholson Davis (Sisty), of Jonesboro, passed peacefully on September 13, 2022, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, just shy of her 98th birthday. Sisty was born in Harrison, Ark., to James W. Nicholson and Elma Travis Nicholson on October 4, 1924. She married Charles F. "Chili" Davis on December 27, 1949, and they resided together in Jonesboro until his health failed and he passed in January 2016. Her parents and brother, James W. Nicholson, Jr., also preceded her in death. Sisty is survived by her daughter, Mary Jill Davis; a son, Charles Brent Davis, and his wife Terry, all of Jonesboro; and three nieces and nephews: Travis Holiman, Jan Nicholson, and Jack Stucky. Sisty also leaves behind her life-long friend, Ruby Mae (Bishop) Langley, who was like her sister. Sisty's parents were both college-educated teachers. Her mother taught in small one-room schools in Batavia and Capps in Boone County and her father taught in the Harrison Schools. Their teaching jobs also took them and Sisty to Cane Hill and West Fork as she was growing up. She loved the hills and streams of the Ozarks and cherished her occasional escapes from the flat lands of NE Arkansas to Lake Norfork and back to the hills up until the past few years. Sisty was a Presbyterian and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Jonesboro most of her adult life. Sisty graduated as valedictorian of her 1942 class at Harrison High School, and went on to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where she obtained her degree in education in 1947. While there, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, serving as President during her senior year. In the summer of 1944, while home from college, Sisty took flying lessons in a Piper Cub and successfully soloed and obtained her certification from the Civil Aeronautics Administration at the age of 19. After graduation from college, she took a job in the fall of 1949, teaching Physical Education at Jonesboro Junior High under Ms. Annie Camp, for whom the school would later be named. She met her husband, Chili, who was the football coach there, and they hit it off and were married later that year. Sisty stepped away from school for a period while her children were young, but in the mid 60's while working a day job at the Post Office, attended night classes at Arkansas State University and earned her Master's Degree in Counseling and become one of the first elementary school counselors in Arkansas in 1965. She served as a guidance counselor at Hillcrest Elementary and Douglas MacArthur Jr. High Schools for over 20 years. During her years at Douglas MacArthur, Jr., she helped organize a group of fellow teachers into a group known as A.S.P (Against Secret Pals) to combat the proliferation of juvenile-like secret pal groups among many of the teachers. The A.S.P. and in later years R.A.S.P. (Retirees Against Secret Pals) membership contained Sisty's closest and most loyal friends. She was a mother figure to many of them and sister to others and grandmother to many of their children and grandchildren. Sisty was active in the lives of her children and community. She served as Girl Scout Leader, Past President of School Counselors Association, Charter Member (AG) P.E.O. Chapter for 74 years and a member of (AJ) Chapter of P.E.O. She was a Past President of AAUW, and member of Arkansas Education Association, as well as a former member of the Delta Kappa Gamma organization. She was a life-long yellow-dog Democrat and proud of it. Sisty only rarely mentioned some of her other "so-called" accomplishments and honors such as her 1st runner-up in the 1948 Miss Arkansas competition, her Mother of the Year Award in 1959, and Yard of the Month Award in 1987. She did frequently remind those around her in her later years that if you lived long enough you would outlive anyone able to dispute the factual accuracy of claims made after your death. Sisty was small in stature but had a huge influence on the people who were fortunate enough to have her in their lives. From her best friends' children, to the neighbor kids in the rent house next door, to the younger educators she worked with, and to her own children, she was a wonderful example of what a witty, strong, and independent woman should be. Her legacy is the many people she influenced that carry her love of humor, education and caring for others into the world each day. The family would like to thank Gwendolyn Williams, Terassa Andrews, and Zelma Woods for the loving care they gave Sisty during the past year. The care providers at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House are acknowledged for their care as well. Sisty loved pets and especially those needing homes. The family would request that those who feel so inclined to donate, please consider the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society in her memory. There will be no formal visitation and funeral service. Burial will be private. A "Celebration of Life" gathering for close family and friends will be held at a later date. Online registry at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.