Mary Helen Davidson
Mary Helen Davidson, 90, of Plant City, died April 20, 2016.
Mrs. Davidson was born April 6, 1926, the second child of four, to Eva and Baden Carter in Trenton, Tennessee. In high school, she was a starting member of the girls’ varsity basketball team, as well as a member of the band.
She met her future husband, Lonnie M. Davidson, at age 12 while visiting her older sister in Keiser, Arkansas. Upon his return from six years of service in World War II and Korea, the two were married on Sept. 16, 1948. Her role as the wife of an Army officer had begun, taking her to live in Europe and different states. She was known as the “Dolly Madison” of Army wives, serving as a gracious hostess to generals and the nation’s senior ambassador.
Her children were born in different states: Pamela in Texas, Suzanne in Tennessee and Deborah in Georgia. As an Army wife, she had to quickly acclimate the family to new surroundings as her husband’s average tour of duty was three years. She would also be a single parent while her husband was away at duty.
Upon her husband’s retirement, she led an active life. She was champion of the ladies’ golf in Walden Lake and an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, where she was recognized as Woman of the Year 2004 and served as Elder from 2003 to 2005.
Her hobbies included reading, golf and bridge. She was a talented still life watercolorist and also sang in Billy Graham’s Crusade Choir. She will be most remembered as a devoted wife to her husband and a caring mother to “her girls.”
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Col. Lonnie M. Davidson; sister, Lucille, of Dyer, Tennessee; daughters, Pamela Hotz (Donald), of Sacramento, California, Suzanne DiJiacomo (Louis), of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Deborah Davidson, of Santa Rosa, California; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
A service of honor was held April 26, at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City. Burial will follow at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 W. Reynolds St., Plant City, Florida 33563.
The Charles E. Davis Funeral Home of Inverness, Florida, is assisting the family.
“To God be the Glory.”
