Obituary for Muriel Davis
Muriel Elizabeth (Leonard) Davis, age 90, went to be with the Lord Jesus her savior at her home in Minneola, FL on November 19, 2021. She was born in Blue Ridge, VA on August 4, 1931, the eldest daughter of Anthony and Bertha (White) Leonard.
She grew up working on the family farm while attending Colonial Elementary. She was a graduate of Colonial High School before she attended Bryan College in Dayton, TN. After meeting her future husband, she transferred to Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
Muriel married Chuck Davis on September 12, 1958 in Blue Ridge, VA. This marriage was blessed by four children.
After Chuck finished seminary and was ordained, they pastored at Glade Creek Chuck in Blue Ridge VA. They joined Africa Inland Mission and they served with the mission for 48 years.
As missionaries they attended French language in Neuchatel, Switzerland and then moved to the Ituri Forest station of Banzwadi, in the Republic of Congo. It was there that they became political prisoners for three months. After three (3) months as missionaries, Muriel and Chuck were held as political prisoners. Chuck was held in a prison and Muriel, pregnant, and with 2 children were held at a missionary station with several other families. After 111 days, they were rescued by Belgium Para Commandos and returned to the United States. Muriel, Chuck and 3 children to the Republic of Congo in 1966 where they served for another 10 years.
When the family of six returned to the United States, they made their home in Roanoke and their church home at First Baptist Church, Roanoke. Muriel worked for Shenandoah Life Insurance and Musselwhite & Associates until retirement and they moved to the Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center in Minneola, Florida.
Muriel is survived by her husband, Chuck; son, Steve Davis and his wife, Debbie, Hummeltown, PA; three daughters, Beth Taylor and her husband, Dr. Bill Taylor, Byrdstown, TN; Susan Falero of Chapin, SC; and Judy Fitzgerald and her husband, Joel, II, of Ness City, Kansas; 10 Grandchildren; and 4 great grand-children; One brother, Robert Leonard, Blue Ridge, VA; Two Sisters, Carolyn Vandergrift (& Richard), Harrisburg, North Carolina and Sandra Ennis (& Harry), St. Augustine, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Fred Leonard and two sisters, Janie Dudley and Margaret Tribbett. A memorial service will be held at a later date with inurnment at Glade Creek Cemetery. Rather than flowers a memorial contributions may be given to Samaritans Purse.
She grew up working on the family farm while attending Colonial Elementary. She was a graduate of Colonial High School before she attended Bryan College in Dayton, TN. After meeting her future husband, she transferred to Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
Muriel married Chuck Davis on September 12, 1958 in Blue Ridge, VA. This marriage was blessed by four children.
After Chuck finished seminary and was ordained, they pastored at Glade Creek Chuck in Blue Ridge VA. They joined Africa Inland Mission and they served with the mission for 48 years.
As missionaries they attended French language in Neuchatel, Switzerland and then moved to the Ituri Forest station of Banzwadi, in the Republic of Congo. It was there that they became political prisoners for three months. After three (3) months as missionaries, Muriel and Chuck were held as political prisoners. Chuck was held in a prison and Muriel, pregnant, and with 2 children were held at a missionary station with several other families. After 111 days, they were rescued by Belgium Para Commandos and returned to the United States. Muriel, Chuck and 3 children to the Republic of Congo in 1966 where they served for another 10 years.
When the family of six returned to the United States, they made their home in Roanoke and their church home at First Baptist Church, Roanoke. Muriel worked for Shenandoah Life Insurance and Musselwhite & Associates until retirement and they moved to the Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center in Minneola, Florida.
Muriel is survived by her husband, Chuck; son, Steve Davis and his wife, Debbie, Hummeltown, PA; three daughters, Beth Taylor and her husband, Dr. Bill Taylor, Byrdstown, TN; Susan Falero of Chapin, SC; and Judy Fitzgerald and her husband, Joel, II, of Ness City, Kansas; 10 Grandchildren; and 4 great grand-children; One brother, Robert Leonard, Blue Ridge, VA; Two Sisters, Carolyn Vandergrift (& Richard), Harrisburg, North Carolina and Sandra Ennis (& Harry), St. Augustine, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Fred Leonard and two sisters, Janie Dudley and Margaret Tribbett. A memorial service will be held at a later date with inurnment at Glade Creek Cemetery. Rather than flowers a memorial contributions may be given to Samaritans Purse.