The Feats of an Unsung American Heroine: The Triumphs of Mrs. Millie

By John H. Davis

The book commemorates my mother, Millie B. Davis, for her achievements and contributions as a virtuous woman and mother, devoted Christian, outstanding member of the community, and loyal citizen of the United States. Mothers play an indispensable role in the existence of the human race; without them, the United States or any other nation would not exist. Therefore, when a mother conscientiously performs her inherent duties and responsibilities, notwithstanding prevailing adversities, she is justifiably an unequivocal heroine of the universe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514436806

John H. Davis

John H. Davis was born in New York City (Manhattan), in an area known then as Spanish Harlem. His mother was born and raised in Panama and came to this country (USA) when she was eighteen, met John’s father, of Afro-American descent. John spent his youth and young adult years in the boroughs of New York City, first in Manhattan, then Brooklyn, going to Boys’ High School, Greater New York Academy (a parochial school), and for a short while attended CCNY in Manhattan. He moved to Los Angeles, California, and attended college, completing his undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science—Marketing and Sales Management), attended law school, receiving his Juris Doctor and later returned to school to obtain an MBA degree. John has lived in Alabama, where he taught at several colleges, including Oakwood and Alabama A&M University, teaching such subjects as accounting, economics, paralegal courses, cultural anthropology, and sociology. John has traveled to Egypt, spent time visiting the Cairo Museum and the Valley of the Kings. John has visited a number of states throughout the United States, where he had the opportunity to speak to many individuals concerning their views regarding the history of black people and the slave trade. The author has studied the history of many other ethnic and non-black Americans and many non-Americans. The author worked as a prosecuting attorney in Northern Indiana and presently runs a private law office, handling criminal defense, civil litigation, includes personal injury, family law, bankruptcy, and contract law. His hobbies are long-distance running (completed several marathons, including Boston, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville Tennessee, and San Diego, to name a few), drawing, and violin. He has sung with a rock-and-roll group some years ago in New York City. The author plans to enlarge on the first book with some updated materials in the near future. The author is planning several more books in a series on ethnicities, including his Hispanic heritage.

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Copyright © 2016 by John H. Davis.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2015921032

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-5144-3682-0

   Softcover   978-1-5144-3681-3

   eBook   978-1-5144-3680-6

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without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Rev. date: 01/06/2016

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Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Disclaimer

Introduction

Chapter 1 Genesis of a Heroine

Chapter 2 Building a Traditional Family Circle

Chapter 3 The Virtuous Woman

Chapter 4 Teacher, Doctor, and Mediator

Chapter 5 Overcoming Adversities

Chapter 6 Bridging the Generation Gap and Adjusting to Modernization

Chapter 7 The Good Neighbor

Chapter 8 The Self-Made Woman

Chapter 9 Community Services and Contributions

Chapter 10 Achievements and Recognitions

Chapter 11 Fruits of Diligent Labor

Chapter 12 The Golden and Twilight Years

Chapter 13 This We Inherited

Chapter 14 Tributes to Mrs. Millie

Appendix A Glossary

Appendix B References

Appendix C Words of Wisdom and Biblical Quotes

Appendix D Mrs. Millie's Artistic Illustrations

About the Author

To my mother, who provided me with the wisdom and understanding to appreciate and live in compliance with traditional American values and respect for human rights and dignity. Next, to my immediate family members and the rest of the family circle, who provided me with the professional wisdom, insight, and knowledge to write the book by providing information to assist me in telling my mother's story; then, to my soul mate, Loretta, who provided me with the encouragement, moral support, and inspiration that enabled me to begin and complete the book. Finally, to all mothers, living and dead, who have dedicated their lives to raising their children to show appropriate respect for human rights and dignity, live in harmony with nature, and make positive contributions to their community, nation, and the world.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

---Washington Irving

Preface

The book commemorates my mother, Millie B. Davis, for her achievements and contributions as a virtuous woman and mother, devoted Christian, outstanding member of the community, and loyal citizen of the United States. Mothers play an indispensable role in the existence of the human race; without them, the United States or any other nation would not exist. Therefore, when a mother conscientiously performs her inherent duties and responsibilities, notwithstanding prevailing adversities, she is justifiably an unequivocal heroine of the universe.

The 1930s through the close of 1960 was a period of economic and social adversity for African American mothers in the South. Some women became nationally renowned for their fight against economic, social, and political injustice; thus, they were proclaimed as heroines. However, the vast majority of the women who significantly influenced national prosperity never obtained national fame or the deserved recognition. My mother was one of those people.

The book does not intend to portray my mother as a perfect mother but to relate her contributions that have positively impacted society far beyond Halifax County and the state of North Carolina. Yet like the majority of the mothers in the United States, she has received little or no recognition beyond the local community and selected organizations within the state.

The intended audiences for this book are children and other descendants of mothers, living and dead, especially those who accredit their success and prosperity to their mothers. However, the special audiences are the children of Mrs. Millie, other members of the family circle, and posterity. These groups are the direct beneficiaries of her contributions. For her children and other members of the family circle who knew her, this book produces precious memories and eternal gratitude of days gone by and a source of family history. For those who never knew her, this book serves as a source of inspiration and appreciation for motherhood.

Family members helped me compile information for the book by providing experiences gleaned from sharing their lives with Mrs. Millie and facts from family historical records. Other people, both in the local community and elsewhere, have provided individual details to complete the book. We acknowledge their assistance in the sources that follow each entry. Special thanks to Mrs. Eula Belle House, whose vast knowledge of the Galilee Baptist Church history and Sisters' and Brothers' Branch Union has enabled her to provide information concerning my mother's religious support and contributions.

My mother died on March 8, 2012, but she lives on in the minds and hearts of those who knew her, especially her children. We were blessed beyond comparison to have her as our mother, and we know that the world is a little better because she passed through it. We can readily relate to Washington Irving's quote of wisdom, A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. Thus, we can proudly proclaim Abraham Lincoln's quote, All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. We can unanimously testify that she left her footprints in the sands of time.

The book comprises of fourteen chapters and four appendices. Chapter 1 provides a brief account of my mother's birth and childhood. Chapter 2 identifies her roles and contributions in developing a strong family circle. Chapter 3 identifies her achievements and contributions as a mother, wife, member of the community, and United States citizen. Chapter 4 relates how she provided wisdom, physical and mental healing, and resolved family issues. Chapter 5 relates how she overcame all adversities. Chapter 6 addresses how she adjusted to generational changes and modernization. Chapter 7 identifies her neighborly attributes and contributions. Chapter 8 addresses how she overcame inherent disadvantages to achieve social, economic, and moral success by hard work, ingenuity, and clinging to her rich religious heritage. Chapter 9 addresses her community services and contributions. Chapter 10 identifies her achievements and recognitions. Chapter 11 reveals the impact of her hard work. Chapter 12 addresses the golden and twilight years of her life. Chapter 13 reveals how her superb performance as a mother, wife, community member, and United States citizen impacted the future of her children and grandchildren. Chapter 14 contains tributes from the leaders and other admirers within the local and surrounding communities.

Appendix A contains definitions of words and terms used in the book. Appendix B provides a list of key references that will increase your understanding of the information addressed in the book. Appendix C contains famous quotes of wisdom to support each chapter. Appendix D contains Mrs. Millie's letter of advice to her children, a crocheted family tree, and poems composed by my mother, Mrs. Millie.

Acknowledgments

I express my sincere gratitude to the many people who helped me prepare and publish this book. To all those who provided support, shared ideas, read, wrote, offered comments, allowed me to use their prepared information, and assisted in the editing, proofreading, and design.

I thank Xlibris for enabling me to publish this book. A special thanks to my soul mate, Loretta, who supported and encouraged me in spite of all the time it diverted me from spending precious moments with her during the twilight of our lives. She, a devoted mother, understands the passion that drives me to tell my mother's story.

Above all, thanks to my siblings for relating special memories about our mother and assisting me in gathering additional facts to complete the book. I express my sincere appreciation to the other family members, friends, neighbors, and community members who contributed to this worthy cause. This information helped me tell the authentic story of our mother's life.

I thank my sisters Belle and Emma, for helping me in the process of selecting appropriate title and topics, collecting information from contributors, and editing. Thanks to my publishing consultant, Donna Traz, who assisted and guided me through the publication process.

Last and not least, I thank my entire family circle, who have been with me over the course of the years, enriched my life, and given me the knowledge, insight, and inspiration to complete this book.

Disclaimer

The events, locales, and conversations in this book come from the memories of the author and those individuals who provided oral and written information to complete the book. All oral input is not written as word-for-word duplicate as related. Rather, the author has retold them in a way that