- Date Of Birth: September 17, 1923
- Date Of Death: August 4, 2019
- State: Illinois
Iola Davis was a kind, courageous, and spirited woman. The 4th and last child of Nell Cotton and Willie Mathews, Sr., Iola was born in Selma, Alabama on September 17, 1922. She departed this world on Sunday, August 4, 2019. She was baptized and taught the love of the Bible and the Lord. She had three siblings: Alice, Ethel and Willie Jr. (Ted).
The family moved to Chicago, IL in the early 1940’s. Iola attended Coleman Elementary and Dusable High School. Iola married Willie R. Jackson who was killed in action in World War II. To this union was born William Jr. and Lonnie Jackson. She later met and married James P. Davis (deceased veteran of World War II – 1991). They were married on June 4, 1949 and to this beloved union, Iola became the loving and caring mother of seven more: Leonard, Frank, Claretta, Armetrice, Vinava, Patrice, and Cedric.
The family lived in Chicago and soon moved to Morgan Park. With no formal training, Iola was a counselor, a mentor, a teacher, and a strong woman with God fearing upbringing. She raised her children the same way. A member of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Morgan Park for many years, Iola soon joined Ascension-St. Susanna Parish when the family moved to Harvey, IL in 1973.
A retired member of the U.S.
Iola was a “soldier in God’s Army!
