Mary Helen Davidson , 90, of Plant City went to her eternal reward on April 20, 2016. Helen was born the second child of four to Eva and Baden Carter in Trenton, Tennessee on April 6, 1926. In high school she was a starting member of the girls’ varsity basketball team, as well as a member of the band. Helen met her future husband, Lonnie M. Davidson, at the age of twelve, while visiting her older sister in Keiser, Arkansas. Upon his return from six years service in World War ll and Korea, Helen and Lonnie were married on September 16, 1948. Her role as the wife of an Army officer had begun, taking her to life in Europe and different US states. Helen was known as the “Dolly Madison” of Army wives serving as gracious hostess to generals as well as to the Nation’s Senior Ambassador. Her children would be born in different states; Pamela in Texas, Suzanne in Tennessee, and Deborah in Georgia. As an Army wife, Helen had to quickly acclimate the family to new surroundings as her husband’s average tour of duty was three years. She would also be a single parent while her husband was away at duty a year or longer.
Upon her husband’s retirement, she led an active community life. She was golf champion of the ladies golf in Walden Lake, active member of First Presbyterian Church of Plant City where she was recognized as Woman of the Year 2004, and served as Elder 2003-2005. Her hobbies included reading, golf, and bridge. She was a talented still life watercolorist and also sang in Billy Graham’s Crusade Choir. Helen will be most remembered as being a devoted wife to Lonnie and caring mother to “her girls”.
She is survived by her husband of sixty-seven years, Col. Lonnie M. Davidson, her sister, Lucille, of Dyer, Tennessee, and remembered by her daughters, Pamela (Donald) Hotz of Sacramento, California, Suzanne (Louis) DiJiacomo of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Deborah Davidson of Santa Rosa, California, seven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren. “To God be the Glory”.
A service of honor will be held on April 26, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church of Plant City. Viewing will be at 1:00 pm, followed by the service at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow. Burial will take place at the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington Virginia, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 407 W. Mahoney Street, Plant City, FL, 33563. Chas E. Davis Funeral Home of Inverness, FL is assisting the family.
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