The Lady of Court Square: The Biography of Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis: A Lady of Courage That Would Not Accept Defeat

By Carolyn Ann O'Riley

Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis was the Curator & Director of the Old Court House Museum - Eva W. Davis Memorial in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Her life tells the story that, money isn't the object, age means nothing, that lack of formal education can not be used as an excuse, but through will, intent, hard work, Faith, not giving up and God's Grace all can be accomplished regardless of the obstacles that are placed in one's path. Life is a matter of recognizing that there are endless potentials, complete with endless possibilities. Those that think that they can not achieve because they have nothing, Eva's story is written for you. Those that just enjoy an inspirational story of a woman that would not be overlooked, this message is for you. Those that need to identify with a powerful being to emulate here is your mentor, You are the ones that are called to read this book. There are no excuses for failure unless you give yourself permission and allow yourself to believe that you are not worthy of success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781105623127

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The Lady of Court Square: The Biography of Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis: A Lady of Courage That Would Not Accept Defeat

The Lady of Court Square: The Biography of Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis: A Lady of Courage That Would Not Accept Defeat

Carolyn Ann O'Riley

Copyright © 2012 by Carolyn Ann O’Riley

Copyright © 2007 by Carolyn Ann O'Riley. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or

by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by 1976 Copyright Act or in writing by the Author.

All correspondence and inquires should be directed to:

Carolyn Ann O'Riley

The Archangel's Pen

18794 Vista Del Sol

Dallas, Texas 75287-4023 USA

214-232-7199 Phone

E-mail: [e-mail]

1st Edition Print ISBN 1-4116-4808-0

2nd Edition Print ISBN 978-1-4116-4808-0

EPUB Edition ISBN 978-105-62312-7

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

In Memory

Dedications

In Loving Dedication to My Children: Poem For My Children, the Light of My Life

Preface

Chapter 1: The History of Vicksburg

Poem: Worth

Chapter 2: The Beginning Years

Poem: Mitzaph

Chapter 3: As a Young Woman and Mother

Quote: Albert Schweitzer

Chapter 4: The Lamp is Lit, the Passion is Ignited

Poem: Do it Anyway

Chapter 5: She Touched the Lives of So Many

List of References and Research Documents Used

About the Author: Carolyn Ann O’Riley

In Memory

In Loving Memory for Mamaw,

My Mentor and my Grandmother.

You touched my life. You taught me never

to give up and through your examples you showed

me how to find my way, walking with God.

Dedications

This book is dedicated to all the Family that shared the life of

Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis.  Family was a very important focal point of her life. The Family’s love and support of her vision were a critical part of her ability to accomplish it.

Though some family members are no longer with us they have participated through written memories and verbal stories that were passed down to the next generation.

Thank you to all those living family members that have so graciously shared your memories with me to help bring this biography to life.

A special thank you to Betty and Penny Worley who knew this story must be told and wouldn’t let it rest until it was. A gracious thank you also for sharing all their pictures and available family archived materials to complete the research necessary to put this book together.

Thank you to Dr. Edward F. Van Cleave Jr., my brother that edited this book for me.

It is also dedicated to Miss Eva’s friends and business acquaintances; in particular Gordon Cotton and Charles Faulk that so lovingly supported her cause and felt her worthy of success.

Thank you for the pictures. Many were taken by others that we have no way of identifying. Your gift of these pictures is so appreciated.

In Loving Dedication To My Children

My Children were to small to really remember my Mamaw, but it is partly for them that this was written, I want them to know the roots from which the mighty family tree grew so they can pass it along to their children.

Poem: For My Children, the Light Of My Life

By Carolyn Ann O’Riley

I have two candles that light my way

It had not always been so.

They came at a time when I felt no love, it was darkness and nowhere to go

Through the forms of two children, Angels in disguise, I was gifted to watch them grow.

At the hours of their births I had no clue

All the trials and joys of their lives that would then ensue

I have two candles that light my way

It had not always been so.

With their mischievous laughs, love, tears and smiles

We have walked and walked it seems for miles.

They guide me ever so gently now towards the end

Grown, moving further away now although their light shines on around the bend.

I have two candles that light my way

It had not always been so.

Their flames have blazed brighter as their hearts have grown

The path has been smoother for their loving presence known.

The awareness has dawned that it was not I, but them

Who guided my steps over rocks & stems.

I have two candles that light my way

It had not always been so.

The Divine Gift of Sonia & Chris each step of the way

Has brought me the wisdom that I embrace today.

I have two candles that light my way

It had not always been so.

Preface

My name is Carolyn Ann Van Cleave O’Riley and I am the first granddaughter of Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis.

This book is a dedication of love to my mentor, grandmother, my Mamaw as she was known to me.

When a family has a well-known relative, one thinks everyone knows them, what else is there to write about. Then you begin breaking it down by generation and years. Realizing at last that the story must be passed from one generation to the next or the story becomes lost forever.

It is my intention and desire that Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis’s story be preserved here, not only for the direct descendants of her family but to also inspire others that might see themselves in similar circumstances.

Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis was an extraordinary lady.  She lived and worked with very little money but didn’t allow that to become an excuse or crutch for non-achievement in her life.

We welcome you to allow her to be an inspiration in your life the way she has inspired ours.

Chapter 1: The History of Vicksburg

" When the sun comes over Vicksburg

On time with the Court House clock,

‘Tis the same that saw slaves

Labor to build it, block by block! "

" So closed the daily commercial radio show known as Court Square, a presentation of Mutual Radio Station W.Q.B.C. in Vicksburg, Mississippi 1949 through 1956 and with it, the Old Court House Museum became a living history Museum, now known over the entire nation for its many thousands of items of exhibits. Its beginning is an important milestone for Vicksburg" [1]

Life is a matter of recognizing that there are endless potentials, complete with endless possibilities. Those that think that they cannot achieve because they have nothing, Eva’s story is written for you. Those that just need a moment of inspiration or separation from their own inner destructive demons, read on. Those that just enjoy a good story of a woman that would not be overlooked, this  message is for you. Those that need to identify with a powerful being to emulate, here is your mentor. You are the ones that are called to read this book. There are no excuses for failure unless you give yourself permission and allow yourself to believe that you are not worthy of success.

Miss Eva, as she was affectionately known by those that knew her and loved her, was a woman of strong conviction and courage that persevered in spite of the Nay Sayers telling everyone, including Eva, that it could not be done.

Just as the words depicted of the slaves in the saying above ‘Tis the same that saw slaves Labor to build it, block by block! " Eva physically and mentally labored and battled to bring The Old Court House Museum into reality one step forward and two steps backward day after day until the resistance simply gave up. The resistance caved in because they were thoroughly convinced that Eva would fail.

They did not know that Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis was a lady of courage that would not accept defeat.

The Old Court House Museum is in existence today through the efforts, hard work, grit and determination of one woman, Eva Caroline Whitaker Davis.

She brought insight through her love and inner personal convictions, which told her, that those that didn’t embrace their own history would be deemed to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Eva dove in head-first to bring to Vicksburg a source of history so that others could learn about the past, through this beautiful old historic court house.

She was a one person show as she was invited to speak of history to group after group all over the nation.

She spoke of Vicksburg’s history through her radio show produced, directed and broadcast from the Old Court House Museum itself.

This author was privileged to watch several of those radio broadcasts while visiting Mamaw (as her grandchildren called her) in Vicksburg.

It was always amazing to watch the way that people were drawn to her. Her charisma made them hungry to hear her tell the story of, that great historic building, the Old Court House Museum. She would paint the picture for the Museum visitors with words that would draw them back into the historical moments themselves.

This gracious Southern Lady led them back in time as she so often use to say Those Who Forget Their Past, Have No Future.[2]

As William J. Bolls Jr. reminisced " I spent a great deal of time at the Old Court