Mary Ella Davis [4426]

  General Notes:

Obituary - wvraleigh -

Mary Ella Davis, daughter of Lucinda Williams and William Davis, married Henry Harrison Harper in 1881.

Affectionately known as "Aunt Ellie" or "Ma Harper", Mary Ella Harper created a home that was known throughout this section for its hospitality, welcoming smiles, and Christian fellowship. Many tributes could be written to the tall blonde queenly woman, mother of nine children and friend of anyone who was sick or in need, but the one word synonymous with "Ma Harper" was faith - an unfaltering, shining faith that expressed itself in prayers so potent that people sought her from all parts of the state.

Always a light sleeper, "Ma Harper" spent many of the hours after midnight studying and reading her Bible.

With her large baskets filled with luscious custards, yellow pound cake, fried chicken and fat potato salad balls, Ma Harper was always a popular guest at the church dinners of the old Mt. Tabor Church. It was she who prepared the wine and bread each time the Sacrament was served in the Harper Methodist Church, and it was she who entertained the itinerant preachers and their families.

With all her towering physical and spiritual strength, Ma Harper was first and always a woman. While she seldom gave a thought to herself, she like pretty clothes for special occasions, and was always bitterly annoyed because her hands were not delicately made. Her hands were exceptionally large, strong and gentle. In the sick room, no touch was as soothing or successful in banishing pain. These things, she discounted, however, and a manicure remained one of her pet vanities.

A believer in marriage and a born match-maker, Ma Harper was never too busy to entertain young lovers, and always manifested the greatest interest in preparing for the entertainment and weddings.

She could smile and pray her way through any dark hour. She succumbed December 5, 1931.

Mary married Henry Harrison Harper [4427] [MRIN: 1553] on 20 Jul 1881. (Henry Harrison Harper [4427] was born on 1 Dec 1851 and died on 4 Mar 1923.)