Thelma P. “Jean” Davis

Thelma P. “Jean” Davis, 87, passed from this earth on Thursday, Jan. 16.

She was born to Sammie Lee and Dexter Ann Patterson on May 14, 1932. She married her handsome sailor, Don, in May 1952.

She was one of 11 children and is survived by her brothers, Calvin (Lola) and Jerry. She leaves behind her daughter, Donna Rosenmayer (Tom), and grandchildren, Allee (Sam Horn) and Luke (Allison).

Jean was a lifelong believer in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She devoted many hours teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and spreading her faith through her well-known “chalk talks.”

Jean was something of a trendsetter by being a career woman when most women were staying home. She pursued a professional career in Birmingham from 1952 to 1977. In 1978, she returned to her roots in Shelby County and began a stint in real estate and Mary Kay Cosmetics. When Don built DJ’s Barbecue from the ground up, she cheered him on and kept the books for the enterprise.

In their later years together, Don surprised her with a trip to Hawaii, which had been on her bucket list for as long as anyone remembers. As for their travels, they looked forward to summers when the grandkids moved in and introduced them to countless wonders on their road trips — from the big basket at the Longaberger Museum to the Baseball Hall of Fame, from the John Deere Museum to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. She always reveled in the kids and loved wrestling and tickling matches with them on the floor.

She touched countless lives, and many feel her loss deeply. Among them, Memory Finn, who was Don’s right hand running DJ’s and, who for so many reasons, was like a daughter to them. Kelly Nickolson and her daughter Emma had a special place in her heart. She spent the last months of her life at Chelsea’s Hidden Acres, where she was loved and cared for by Paula Thomas and the staff/caregivers there. Finally, her days were made special by the care of her devoted companion, Amanda Osborne. She and Amanda had their own “special” language that no one could interpret, but they understood each other instinctively.

Her life will be celebrated at Charter Funeral Home in Calera on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. Per her wishes, it will be a happy occasion to honor her going home; there will be singing and clapping of hands.

In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.