Leila H. Davies

It was a very cold day, December 10, 1935, to be exact, that a girl child was born at Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia to James Augustus and Anna Pearl Holman. Her early years were spent in Macon, Tacoa, Augusta, and Atlanta, Georgia where her father served as Pastor. She graduated from David T. Howard High School in Atlanta an immediately enrolled at Clark University, but subsequently attended and graduated from Fort Valley State University in 1958 with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education.

It was at Fort Valley State that she met the man that would be her husband and soul mate and they married in 1959. Leila and Langston were inseparable. They are the epitome of a Christian Couple. Encouraging and supportive of each other and everyone. They spent a short time in Lynchburg, Virginia, and then moved to Washington, DC.

Her religious experience began at an early age. She joined Williams Memorial CME Church in Augusta, Georgia, when she was eight years old. Her father was the Pastor. After her marriage to Langston, she joined Diamond Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia before moving to DC. She joined Canaan Baptist in October 1960 during the pastorate of Rev. M. Cecil Mills and immediately became an active member. She served as President of the Women’s Club; member of the Finance Committee; Financial Secretary and Chaplain of the Sanctuary Choir; Treasurer of the Eight O’Clock Choir; member of the Hilda J. Woodard Memorial Choir; member and Vice President of the Deaconness Ministry; member and wardrobe designer for the Sacred Performing Arts Ministry and a teacher in the Community Learning Center.

Leila attended public schools in three Georgia cities – Augusta, Thomasville and Atlanta. She received her Master’s Degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC, in 1970. Leila was employed by the DC Public School System for over 35 years, serving at Maury Elementary and her last assignment was at LaSalle Elementary. She retired in 1995.

She was a member of the Samaritan, Inc., a charitable group of women who devoted two Saturdays each month to deaf/blind senior citizens, the Emanons, another charitable organization, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Rev. and Mrs. Holman; two sisters: Catherine Yvonne Baker and Georgia Mae Kaiser; and brother-in-law James C. Baker.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 55 years: Langston U. Davies; son: Paul (Celeste) of Los Angeles, California; daughter: Ursula; granddaughters: Nirel Davies and Danielle Baker; illustrious Aunt: Mary Lou Simms of Statham, Georgia; brother-in-law: Carl Kaiser; devoted nephew: Christopher Baker; nieces: Karen and Lisa Kaiser, and Lucretia A. Pierce; grandnephew: Muhammad Gueye; grandnieces: Khadijah and Maryam Gueye; and other relatives and friends.