WILLIAM A. DAVIS

 The following bio was taken from page 171 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

  Effie Ethel Holt was born into the Marvin Holt family May 21, 1912.  As she grew, she adjusted to her place as not being the oldest or the youngest of the flock.  When twins entered the picture two years later, however, she soon learned to assert her ideas and desires but without too much fuss when getting pushed too far.  She developed a sweet, gentle disposition with definite ideas of what she wanted to be or do.

 Effie graduated from Henderson High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College a year before she started to teach at Church Hill.  She taught during that winter and attended college during vacations and night classes as many teachers did at that time.  She received her B.A. and M.Ed. degrees from Stephen F. Austin.

After a couple of years, she joined the Henderson Elementary School faculty as a first grade teacher, a position she filled for twenty-eight years.  She made a place for herself in the hearts of the children and their parents because of her love and devotion for children, as well as her determination, without losing her patience, that they accomplish the goals she expected.  One child expressed it this way, “She loved with her arms, and voice, but her eyes said no!”

 Effie married William (Bill) A. Davis in 1944 while he was in service during World War II.  She continued her teaching, and after her husband received his discharge, he was connected with the Henderson Port Office.  May 13, 1949, their son, Holt William Davis, arrived, and needless to say, he was soon the apple of their eyes.

 Effie continued to give all of her energy to those things that helped her son and her pupils; however, she developed an illness which, after a time, made it necessary that she retire.  This was two years before her death.  During those two years she remained a loving, patient person with a smile for anyone that might drop in for a visit.  One day when her pastor came to visit, as he did daily, he said she gave him more strength spiritually than he felt he gave her.  The end came on July 5, 1964.

 Two years later, Bill married Bettie Bolton, who had a great influence on Holt during his teenage years and was supportive of Bill during their marriage and his last illness.  He passed away in December 1977.

 Holt graduated from high school and attended Kilgore College.  He worked for a while before joining the Air Force, and while in service he was on a tour of duty in Alaska.  The past two years he has been with LeTourneau and has spent much time in Europe and Australia.

 This account is in loving memory of Effie Davis and her husband, Bill.

 Submitted by Faye Layman