Obituary of Gloria Jean Davis

Gloria Jean Petrucci Davis, widow of James “Red” Orian Davis, Sr., died Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Palmetto Health Tuomey.

 

Born May 14, 1934 in New Castle, Delaware, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Jennie Petrucci and the youngest of eight children. 

 

She was employed as an electric rewinder in Delaware before meeting and marrying the love of her life, and making their home in Sumter, South Carolina in 1952.  She was a stay-at-home mother until her children were grown, and then worked for a number of years for Hickory Farms and Shuler’s Drive-In.  She was a member of and attended Westside Baptist Church.

 

Gloria was a warm, gentle person with a passionate Italian heart.  She was loving and caring in all facets of her life—wife, mother, sister, aunt, great-aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.  She was a mother figure to so many others besides her own children.  She was so much to so many people.  She was an avid Words with Friends/Scrabble player, and played countless games with friends and family at her kitchen table.  She very much enjoyed talking and visiting with friends, watching game shows, crocheting, and reading her Bible.

 

Survivors include her children, Jeane Brown, Beverly Bilton (Al), Jimmy Davis, Jr., and Beth Coker (Clint), all of Sumter; six grandchildren, Kelly Ardis (Jeff), Jason Bilton (Bridget), Jimmy Davis III (Savanah), Randi Coker, Kyle Coker, and Taylor Davis; seven great-grandchildren, Sydney Ardis, Emmitt Bilton, Haleigh Bilton, Gracie Ardis, Lexi Bilton, Nada James Davis, and Abram Redd Davis; and a special niece, Lena Mae Damiano; and several nieces and nephews.

 

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph Petrucci, Christian Petrucci, and David Petrucci; four sisters, Florence Drummond, Mildred Sayers, Elizabeth Logue Mertz, and Esther DeMoss; a son-in-law, Jack Gibbs; and a grandson, Justin Gibbs.

 

Funeral services will be held at 4 P.M. Thursday at Westside Baptist Church, 554 Pinewood Road, Sumter with Rev. Aaron Reed officiating.

 

Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

 

The family will receive friends from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Wednesday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and other times at her home, 3435 Widman Drive.

 

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Stonemark Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. 

  

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

 

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.