Carolyn Frankie Davis' Obituary
Mrs. Carolyn Frankie Davis, born January 27, 1950; has passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on February 5, 2026 in Collierville TN. Mrs. Davis was the daughter of the late Thurman and Ruth Alexander Davis of Cleveland TN. Her grandparents were the late Luther and Emmaline (Cartwright) Davis and the late Cecil and Eva (Johnson) Alexander, all of Cleveland, Tennessee. She grew up in Cleveland, Tennessee but resided in Peoria, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; and Collierville, Tennessee during her adult life.
A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, Mrs. Davis was named 1968 Outstanding Young Woman of Cleveland. Passionate about her faith, at the age of nineteen she founded the first “children’s church” in her home church in Bradley County and was its first teacher. She was very proud of the young people who passed through the children’s church doors and fondly remembered the children throughout her life. She always said, “It’s not how much you talk about your Christian faith, but it’s all about how you live your faith.” She always preferred to give rather than receive. As a young professional, she volunteered with the Memphis, Tennessee Adopt-a-School program which helped at-risk children. Her true wealth was in her generous heart. In her limited free time, she was an artist, photographer, and writer.
A member of Who’s Who in American Colleges, Mrs. Davis was graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors from Cleveland State (Tennessee) Community College. Mrs. Davis held a full-time job in order to pay all of her college expenses while also a full-time student at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Even though she was working full-time, she was graduated with Cum Laude Honors and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Carolyn had worked and paid all of her education and personal expenses since the age of sixteen. She was pleased to be able to relieve her family of that financial burden since her father had been disabled since she was three years old.
Following college graduation, she began her career in 1979 as one of the first three women to ever be admitted to the Caterpillar Tractor Company’s Sales Management Training Program in Peoria, Illinois. Three years later and weary of cold northern winters, Mrs. Davis moved to Memphis where she became Vice President of First Tennessee Bank. Later, she opened her own business, Davis and Associates, which specialized in computer systems documentation.
Due to her mother’s declining health, Carolyn closed her business in 1999 to personally provide round-the-clock in-home care for seven years. It was a challenge to be her sole caretaker but Carolyn’s husband said she was such a loving daughter that her mother never wanted for anything.
Her husband described her as an extremely loving and caring wife and daughter. She will be deeply missed by all who relied on her friendship and prayers. Mrs. Davis is survived by her nephew, Mike Davis (Judy) of Chesterfield, VA. She was preceded in death by her entire immediate family: her husband of 35 years, Robert A. Willis, Jr.; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thurman Davis (Ruth Alexander) of Cleveland TN; brothers, Calvin Ray Davis of Cleveland TN and Larry Thurman Davis of Stafford VA; and beloved sister and best friend, Wilma Lorrena Davis Martin of Cleveland TN.
Funeral services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 13, 2026 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery on 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at 1:00 P.M. Funeral services will be officiated by Dr. David Olford.
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