Velda M. Davis

Velda Murlene (Bradshaw) Davis, 95, passed away peacefully on Friday December 31, 2021 at Sequoia Heights Adult Foster Home in Vancouver, Washington. A brief graveside service will be held on Friday January 14th at 3:00 PM at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver. A Celebration of Life Service will be held later this spring at a date yet to be determined. Velda was born at home on October 16, 1926 in Bolivar, Missouri to Otis and Bethel (Huckaby) Bradshaw. Velda was one of six children born into a wonderful Christian family who worshipped at a little country church, Hopewell Baptist Church, outside of Urbana, Missouri. That is where she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ as a girl. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression, she would tell stories of great hardship and yet, how God met their needs, often in wonderful ways. She and her family all escaped their house burning to the ground one cold night. With the promise of a good job awaiting him, Velda's daddy, moved the family out to Southern California where Velda went to work in a packing plant to help with family expenses in Santa Paula, California. During World War II she worked packing and shipping supplies for the war effort at Port Hueneme, California. At War's end, at church on a Sunday morning, she met a young soldier who had just returned from the war in Europe. His name was Thomas ("Ted") Edison Davis. They began seeing each other daily, fell deeply in love, and less than one month later they were married on September 30th, 1945. Velda and Ted remained faithful to their marriage vows for over 70 years until his passing in 2016. All their married life they pastored Southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma, Texas, California, Washington and Oregon, teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Velda faithfully served in many needed areas at the local church wherever they lived. She taught Sunday School, served alongside her Pastor/Husband as church secretary, helped organize church potlucks, weddings, Vacation Bible Schools, women's ministries and local Revival services, to name just a few. While living in Garden Grove, California, she enrolled in adult night school classes at Santiago High School where she earned her diploma. In addition Velda became a licensed Beautician, working outside the home for many years. Velda's true love, next to her serving Jesus alongside her husband, was her love of her large family. She and Ted had two children, Teddy Eugene born in Ventura, California in 1946 and Janice Merlene born in 1949 in Decatur, Texas where she and her husband were attending Decatur Baptist College. Velda is survived by her son Teddy and daughter in law, Sheila Davis of La Grande, Oregon, her daughter Janice and son in law Jim Maddock of Vancouver, Washington. She is also survived by her sister Willa Mae Mashburn of Buelton, California, brother in law Joe and her brother Charles Bradshaw of Branson, Missouri. Velda's two children blessed her with seven beautiful grandchildren, Ben Maddock and his wife Summar, Ryan Maddock and his wife Aubree, Heather Winburn and her husband Stephen, Sharon Prosch and her husband Greg, Julie Kennedy and her husband Ryan, DeAnne Welberg and her husband Patrick, Tommy Davis and his wife Ona. In addition Velda has seventeen great grandchildren, and nine great-great grandchildren. Velda was preceded in death by her husband Ted, her parents Otis and Bethel Bradshaw, her sister Sylvia Hodges, her sister Phyllis Boley, and her sister Betty Crisman. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution to Velda's local church, The Gathering Place, 2500 NE 78th Street, Vancouver, WA 98665.

Velda M. Davis

October 16, 1926 - December 31, 2021