Anna Maria Davis was born near Shiloh, N. J., June 27, 1841, and died at her home in the village of Shiloh, January 6, 1918, in the 77th year of her age.
She was the daughter of Jeremiah and Eunice Ann Davis and was. born in the house built by her father about one-half mile southeast of the Village of Shiloh on the pike to Bridgeton. After her father's death, which occurred when she was about fifteen years of age, her mother built the home In which she dIed and in which Mr. and Mrs. Davis have lived since retiring from the farm several years ago. The farm on which they spent their active life together is about one-half mile east of the village. All of her life but a few months was spent in these three homes. In the very room where her body lay during the funeral service, she was married to Hiram Davis, January 29, 1868. They had hoped to celebrate their golden wedding, but as Brother Davis said, "God willed otherwise."
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born three children: Florence Anna, who died at the age of eighteen years, Herbert Howard who died at the age of sixteen months, and Carrie Edna who, since the death of her husband, Dr. Arnold C. Davis, has made her home the greater part of the time with her parents. Besides the husband and daughter, there is left to cherish her memory, a grandson, Milton Daland Davis, two sisters, Mrs. Theodore Davis and Mrs. Charles B. Dickinson, all of Shiloh, besides several nephews and nieces.
Sister Davis was baptized by the late Rev. Walter B. Gillette and united with the Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church during the winter of 1857. Thus for more than sixty years, she was a member of the church and a worker in the kingdom of her Master. She was not only interested in the work of the church and seldom missed a service while able to attend, but was a loyal worker in the Female Mite Society, Ladies’ Benevolent Society and the W. C. T. U. She was kind and cheerful and especially friendly with young people and the stranger who might attend the church services. For several years she had suffered a great deal yet was always patient and had a smile and cheery word for all. She was a beautiful singer and enjoyed the best music. The son used in the funeral service, “Saved by Grace,” was selected by her for the occasion as well as the Scripture lesson, John 14.
Her education was obtained in the public schools of her native State and Union Academy of Shiloh. Of her it may well be said that she lived her life well, and that in death no clouds dimmed the sweetness and beauty of her earthly existence. To be sure there were sorrows but these never shut out of her life the sunshine of a Father’s love, and we may well believe that she still lives amid environments free from the cares, the toils and the vicissitudes of this world. For her the mystery of death has been solved, and for us she has left the lesson of a life well spent - an example to the youth of the community and an inspiration to us all.
