Hester G Davis

HESTER G. DAVIS was the third youngest of 12 children born to her parents James Reid, Sr., and Mary Reid Walker (nee Broadnax). She was born in Newark (Essex County), New Jersey in 1932 and spent her formative years in West Orange. She was blessed to have a bonus father, John Walker, after the death of her natural-born father.

Her husband Joshua Lee Davis, Jr., parents James Reid, Sr., and Mary Reid Walker, and John Walker; brothers - Willie James Reid, Roger Reid, Jacob Reid, John Reid, Joseph Wilbur Reid, Jackie Reid, Joel Otto Reid; sisters - Francis Reid and Lugenia Reid all preceded her in death.

Growing up, HESTER G. DAVIS, experienced many challenges - personal childhood sickness; the loss of her father and two sisters at a young age; change in culture from Newark to West Orange - all during the Great Depression and WW2. The faith that was instilled in her at Wells Cathedral and the love of her family helped to make her the loving, caring, and giving person known by many in the community.

She graduated from West Orange High School in West Orange, NJ. She continued her education at Arts College in Newark where she received an Associates degree, while also taking care of her young children. Unfortunately because of the era of the 50’s, she was not able to secure employment with her God given art talent.

In her professional life, HESTER G. DAVIS, worked at Chock-Full-of-Nuts, Western Electric, City of Newark - Model Cities, Newark One Stop and finally as an Interviewer for the Department of Labor of New Jersey for 50+ years until her death. HESTER also worked at East Orange Civic Center teaching art and crochet after working her full-time job.

HESTER was highly involved in the community because she believed in helping anyone that crossed her path. In her words, “God helps those who help themselves. But if you could help somebody else, one way or another it comes back to you.” She was highly involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in the March on Washington, participating in various political campaigns, even bringing people into her home and ‘adopting’ them as part of her family. Hester was truly a PHENOMENAL woman.

HESTER G. DAVIS, met Joshua Lee Davis, Jr.. They fell in love and were married on December 15, 1951. To this union four children were born: Deborah Davis Ford (Rocky Ford), Valerie J. Brown (Earl Brown, Sr.), Joshua Lee Davis, III (Hope), Shamon Davis Pickens (Iasiah Pickens, Jr.). The family has grown to include grandchildren Bianca Campbell (Jeremy Rushton Campbell, Sr.), A. Earl Brown, Jr. (Maria), Rayna Brown, Rachel Ford, Iasiah Gabriel Pickens, III, Joshua Lee Davis IV, Rebekah Pickens and great grands Jeremy Rushton Campbell, Jr and Nayelle Remi Campbell.

HESTER G. DAVIS, leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Deborah Davis Ford (Rocky), Valerie J. Brown (Earl) and Shamon Davis Pickens (Iasiah), and one son, Joshua Lee Davis III (Hope). Seven grandchildren, Bianca Campbell (Jeremy), Albert Earl Brown, Jr. (Maria), Rayna Brown, Rachel Ford, Iasiah Gabriel Pickens III, Joshua Lee Davis IV, Rebekah Pickens, great-grands, Jeremy Rushton Campbell, Jr. and Nayelle Remi Campbell: one sister Ruth Veney; In-laws - Kathleen Davis, Roger Evans (Rachel), Velma Mills (Charlie), Cora Davis (Charles), Hazel Silver (Jimmie, Sr), Melvin Davis (Cynthia), and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends and co-workers.

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