Nola Letha Davis

Nola “Frances” Leatha Petrey Davis, a long-time resident of Friendsville, TN, died peacefully August 18, 2015, in Atlanta, GA. Born in Kentucky, Nola was one of twelve children. She was an elected member of the Honorable Kentucky Colonels with devotion to faith, family, fellowman, and country. Nola worked at Oak Ridge during WWII and simultaneously rebuilt a store into a home while raising five children and her husband, William Eugene, away in the Pacific. Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Burt Vincent featured her story in a column. She later successfully established a beauty shop in her home for over twenty years. Nola’s greatest passion was dedication to her five children. She also enjoyed working in her flower gardens, sharing plantings and bouquets with family and friends. She was a member of Friendsville Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her father, William McKenley Petrey, mother, Nan Shelton Petrey, three sisters and six brothers. Nola is survived by her children, Anna Baird Newsom (Burgess), Leon Baird (Diana), Carole Phelps (Richard), Shirley Seguin (Al), Brenda Davis, two brothers, grandchildren Robby Rapier, Rhonda (Rapier) Schwenk, Gary Newsom, Burgess Newsom, Jr., Wendell Newsom, Shane Higgins, and Christopher Higgins, fourteen great grandchildren, and several nieces and cousins. The family will receive friends at Sherwood Chapel in Alcoa on Saturday from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at the mausoleum chapel with a funeral service to follow at 4:00pm. Condolences may be offered at sherwoodchapel.net.