Erma Davis

Erma Starr Davis, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother died on March 9, 2011 after battling ovarian cancer for almost seven years. She passed away peacefully, while surrounded by her loving family.

Erma was a sweet, loving, compassionate, gentle, caring and humble soul, who was also very beautiful, intelligent and courageous. She was the best wife, mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. She was a Godly woman with a very deep and steadfast Christian faith, and she was a true inspiration to all who knew her. She had many hardships in life, but had the incredible inner strength to endure whatever life handed her by putting her trust in God in all circumstances. Words cannot express how much she will be missed. She was so deeply loved by all that knew her. She loved her family very much and she enjoyed nothing more than spending time with them.

Erma was born on November 2, 1916 in Batesville, Ohio to the late Emmit and Ethel Starr. When she was 2 ½ years old, her family moved to Summit Station, Ohio where she grew up. When Erma was 9 years old, her mother died shortly after her youngest sister was born. Erma was the oldest and took on a maternal role with her brother and sisters. In spite of hardships of losing her mother, and the tough times of the Depression, she had a wonderful childhood. After graduating high school as salutatorian, Erma went to a business college in Columbus, Ohio for secretarial school. Upon graduating college, she got her first secretarial job at Pharis Tire and Rubber Company in Newark, Ohio where she quickly became secretary to the vice president.

Erma was very beautiful, bright, kind and had a great personality, although in her modesty, she didn’t see herself that way. She had many suitors, but she was in no hurry to marry, and she instead chose to enjoy the single life. Erma joined an international business woman’s sorority, Sigma Phi Gamma, which she remained active in for decades, and through the sorority, she was very involved in serving her community. She traveled with her sister and friends throughout the U.S. thoroughly enjoying life. At age 28, on September 23, 1944 Erma married Charles Rufus Davis in Benning, Georgia where Charles was stationed in the army.

After getting married, Erma and Charles lived in Miami, Florida where their first two daughters, Winnie and Pam, were born. They then moved to Falls Church, Virginia where their youngest daughter Charlene, was born. The family lived in Silver Springs, Maryland for 12 years. In 1969, the family moved to South Florida where Erma has resided ever since. While working as a wife and loving, dedicated mother of three daughters, Erma also worked outside the home as a secretary. In Maryland, she worked at Weller Road Elementary School, and after moving to Broward County, she worked for the Broward County School Board I Fort Lauderdale, Florida until she retired In 1986. After retirement, Erma and Charles moved to Wellington, Florida where they resided for 13 years. After Charles passed away, she moved back to Broward County to live near her daughter, Charlene and grandchildren. Soon after, Erma was blessed to have all three of her daughters living close by in South Florida.

Erma is a member of Christian Community Church in Tamarac, Florida where she attended regularly until she became too ill to go. She had many friends at the church, and she had a very strong faith in God that she passed on to her family. Erma’s life was well lived and she has now gone to be with her Lord and Savior in heaven and has been reunited with all her loved ones that went before her. She will live on in the hearts of her family forever. She has left a legacy of love, faith, kindness, humility, sacrifice, compassion, courage and strength. She will be deeply missed and will always be greatly and deeply loved.

Erma is survived by sister, Pauline King of Canton, Ohio; daughters, Winnie Starr Vermillion, Pamela Davis Kirk and Charlene Davis Babyak and son-in-law, George R. Babyak; grandchildren, Hope Vermillion Martinez and husband Martin Martinez, Michael Vermillion and wife, Carla, Lisa Vermillion, Paul Price (son of Charlene) and wife, Kimberly; step-grandchildren, Josh Babyak and wife, Carrie, Channa Babyak Bailey, and husband Doug; great-grandchildren; Zachary and Alexander Martinez; step-great grandchildren, Daniel Bailey, Megan Bailey and Max Babyak. Erma is further survived by nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her wonderful parents. Ethel Cooley Starr and Emmit Starr, husband, Charles R. Davis, two loving sisters, Neva Wallick and Hazel Berridge, one loving brother, Robert Starr and young sister, Virginia Starr.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Christian Appalachian Project, www.christianapp.org