Birth Date: 1961-11-03

Deceased Date: 2010-07-29

Obituary:  

Deceased Date: 2011-03-24

Obituary:
Cousin Teresa Sturdivant of Charlotte NC, made her transition to be with the Creator, on Thursday March the 24th. She is the daughter of Tom & Mary Sturdivant and Great Great grand-daughter of Oliver and Emaline Sturdivant. We will honor her life on Monday March the 28th at Mount Sinai Church @ 1243 West Blvd, Charlotte NC,28208,at 12 noon (visitation) and 1:00pm (services). Arrangement are by the Grier Funeral Home.

Birth Date: 1940-01-05

Deceased Date: 2012-08-23

Obituary:
Obituary

Areatha Elizabeth Sturdivant-Davis was a woman of substance. “She is clothed with strength and dignity” (Proverbs 31:25a NIV); This strong, yet gentle, woman dedicated her life to her family, her church and her community. Her children Gregory Lee, Cheryl Elizabeth and Kevin Anthony were her pride and joy. Her family meant the world to her.

Betty (as she was affectionately named) adored her brothers and sisters. She looked up to Walker, James and Joe. She adored Katie and Almeta. She lovingly sparred with Melcenia. Her best friend was Nathaniel and she eagerly shared the spotlight of being one of the youngest children with her little brother Clarence. Betty worked hard to keep these family ties together. Through festive occasions, frequent visits, telephone calls, cards, letters and emails, she kept her family close.

Betty was born January 5, 1940 to Lee and Annie Sturdivant. She was born in Garfield Hospital in Washington, DC. She was the eighth of nine children born in this family. As in some large families the older siblings assisted with the younger children. This was the case in the Sturdivant household. Katie and Melcenia as the oldest children helped to raise the younger children. Katie taught Betty to read at the tender age of four years old. Betty continued her education in the Washington DC Public school system. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1957. After high school Betty attended the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School where she majored in paralegal studies.

Betty was raised in a Christian household. She received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized at the tender age of thirteen years old as a member of Church of God in Washington DC., under the auspices of Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux. As a youth, Betty was involved in Church activities such as: Sunday School, Purity Club, “Five Thirty Union Program”, and the Cross Choir.

Later in her life Betty joined Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington D.C. She especially enjoyed the Sundays when Richard Smallwood was the Minister of Music. She remarked that “his music filled her soul”. Betty was an active member of her church and participated in ministries such as: the Hearts and Flowers Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Church Chorus Choir Ministry and Bible Study.

As a young adult, Betty met and married James Davis. This union of 29 years produced the couple’s three wonderful children (Cheryl, Greg and Kevin). Their family life was always filled with exciting social activities, holiday dinners, birthday parties, cookouts and family trips. As an adult Betty decided that her friend Pamela Woods needed a big sister, so Betty decided to become her adopted sister. The family home was always filled with love, laughter and fun.

Betty was a hard worker. She held several jobs in her career, with each one providing more growth and responsibility. She was an Office Assistant for the Church of God and a Proofreader for the Happy News Publishing office. Her entrance into the government came as a stenographer for the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She later moved to the U.S. Department of Justice where she honed her skills as a Secretary. Betty spent the last 25 years of her employment with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Program Assistant. She retired from HUD in 1994, but knowing that you can’t keep this “good woman still”, she returned to the workforce and accepted a position at the Environmental Protection Agency as an Administrative Assistant.

Betty was a giver and willingly shared her friendship and her love of life and food with family, friends and organizations. Her Sock-It-To-Me Cakes, Carmel cakes and Pound cakes were legendary. She even entered her cake in a bake-off and won first prize! Everyone gathered around her dining room table during Christmas, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays, waiting for the cakes to appear. Betty was a selfless person who could always be counted on to help a family member or friend in need. She did not appreciate negative comments about someone she cared about. But instead she looked for the positive with a comment such as: “oh don’t say that, he is just special”….

Peacefully, Betty slipped into everlasting life on August 23, 2012 at 1:30 am at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda Maryland. What a wonderful child of the King!
Those left to cherish Betty’s memories are her children Cheryl Elizabeth Davis and Gregory Lee Davis and his wife Nancy. Betty was preceded in death by her son Kevin Anthony Davis. Betty also leaves her five brothers: Jasper Walker, Joseph Leland (Mary), James Leon (Firoozeh), Nathaniel and Clarence Anthony Sturdivant (Syna). She leaves one sister, Dr. Almeta Stokes (James), two grandchildren Nakanya Magby and Rashee Davis. Betty will also be remembered by her godchildren: Rev. Dr. Carla Anne Stokes, Lleah De’niel Sturdivant and a host of family and friends.