Joyce Ann (Fulton) Davis

Joyce Ann Fulton Davis was born on August 21, 1939 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and left this life in her hometown on November 26, 2019.

She graduated from City High School and began working as a legal secretary at Cunningham, Crutchfield & Summit. Because she lost her father at age one, and moved with her mother and brother, Larry Fulton, to Virginia temporarily for her mom to find work, she did not have funds to attend college. She met her husband of almost 57 years, Jackie Reese, at Central Baptist Church, where they would be active members for decades.

Her first born, Jeffrey Reese, arrived on February 22, 1964; not long after, her mother passed. Her next child, Jennifer Marie, came 21 months later on November 22, 1965. They were the light of her life, and she stayed at home to raise and nurture them during their childhood.

She went back to work when they entered Baylor and Girls’ Preparatory School as a day one employee of Con-Way Southern Express (CSE). She worked her way up from secretary to office manager and was transferred to manage a larger terminal in Atlanta in 1990. That’s when her life’s work truly began with the birth of her first grandson, Dylan Reese, on June 19, 1990 to her son, Jeff, and her daughter-in-law, Carrie. His brothers, William Madison and John Christian “Jack,” arrived on October 24, 1995 and September 30, 2000. Mimi, as they called her, helped raise “the boys” – they were her greatest joy.

Mimi was our magnificent matriarch.  She was our master chef, mechanic, plumber, electrician, financial advisor (she was a saver!), seamstress, landscaper, florist, soccer player, antique refinisher, upholsterer, carpenter, bargain shopper extraordinaire, super Santa, pet whisperer, interior decorator, painter, wallpaper hanger, and more. She constantly sacrificed to give us absolutely everything. As her grandson Jack said to her recently, “All of our best memories from childhood are with you.” Words cannot describe the indelible mark she has made on our lives or how much we already miss her, but she will live on in our hearts and we will strive daily to make her proud.

We all affectionately knew her as Joyce, Mom, and Mimi.  We also called her “Joy.”  For we know that “Weeping may tarry for the night, but Joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5. 

She is survived by her husband, Jackie Reese Davis; son, Jeff Davis, Atlanta, GA,  daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer (Jeff) Ward, Savannah, GA;  grandsons, Dylan (Kelly) Davis, Will Davis, and Jack Davis; daughter-in-law, Carrie Christie, all of Atlanta, GA;  brother, Larry (Lavada) Fulton, Cleveland, TN.

A graveside service will be held Monday, December 2nd at 1:30 pm at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. There will be no visitation at the funeral home.

You may visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences to the Davis family.

Donations in her memory can be made to Alexian Village Memory Care, Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Our family thanks the extraordinary Alexian team  for making her final days peaceful, and for offering us love, support and prayers. We also appreciate Hearth Hospice for their superior care.  We thank the staff in memory care for continuing to watch over our father.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.