Evelyn F. Davidson

She was a loving wife to the late Billy Davidson with whom she shared 64 years of marriage. After moving to Brevard County in 1954, Evelyn and Billy enjoyed many wonderful years in Florida and were members of Harbor City Baptist Church.

She is survived by her children, Terri (Clay Avedisian) Davidson; Ronald Davidson; and Mike (Diane) Davidson; Grandchildren Joel, Lisa, and Wendy. Great Grandchildren Ian and Scarlett. As well as many dear friends. Evelyn was greeted in heaven by her husband Billy and her brother, John Smith.

A Graveside service will be held Friday, October 1, 2021 at 9:00AM in Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge FL with Pastor Al Evans officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the charity of your choice.

A Tribute To Mom:

Faye and her husband Billy, met in 1949, when a cousin of Faye’s introduced her to his friend Billy. She was 15 and Billy was 20. They dated for a bit and fell in love.

Soon thereafter Billy enlisted in the United States Air Force. After his return from boot camp at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, Faye and Billy, were married on May 28, 1950. They both resided in Georgia at the time. Faye, being 16 years old, was not of legal age to marry in the state of Georgia. So, they eloped and crossed the state line into South Carolina where 16 years of age was legal at the time.

During the first year of their marriage, Billy was stationed overseas in Okinawa. Faye remained in the States with her family. After a year of Billy being overseas, they were reunited and Billy’s new orders took them to Biloxi, Mississippi. Finally, a life with her husband. It was quickly discovered Faye did not know how to cook. Not one thing did she know how to do in the kitchen. Her husband had to teach her what he had learned in the Air Force. In the many years ahead, Faye became quite an accomplished Southern cook.

They had their first child Mike, after being married for two years. After Biloxi, they were relocated to McDill AFB, in Tampa, FL. The second child, their daughter Terri, came along in 1953, while they were stationed at McDill AFB. Billy’s tour of duty had come to an end just a few months after Terri was born. Instead of re-enlisting, they chose to relocate to Rockledge, FL. There Billy became a part of the space program at Cape Canaveral, which was in its infancy.

Living the life with a spouse that was employed in the space program was a once in a lifetime experience. Billy had long workdays, afterhours advanced training for engineers and an occasional out of state training seminars. Faye, along with many other Cape wives were stay at home moms whose life revolved around their children and husband.

Their third and last child was Ronald, born in 1957. That same year they purchased their very first home which was in Satellite Beach, FL. Their lives were filled with work, kids, summer family vacations, and trips to Augusta, GA to spend the holidays with a large extended family of the Davidson’s and the William’s.

The early 1960’s in Brevard County, (Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach, Indialantic Beach, Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Sebastian, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Rockledge, Titusville, Palm Bay, and Malabar), was defined by the space program. It was the life of cocktail parties, the astronauts, beaches, surfing and boating and the who’s who celebrities that came to town to see the missile launches and meet the astronauts.

The large corporations that were hired to build the various components of the missiles launched at Cape Canaveral, often had a “Wives Club”. Faye belonged to the Martin Wives Club. Their mission was to fundraise for the March of Dimes through fashion show luncheons, and various fundraisers. Faye became a runway model for the Martin Wives Club. It was the era of ladies wearing hats and gloves and updo hairstyles.

Faye’s natural beauty and her height of 5’7” stood out. This country girl from poor beginnings was living the family life and uptown dining with the many people that were part of the space program that was to put a man in orbit and later, on the moon. Her children had everything they needed. Her star was rising in the spotlight that being a “Martin Wife”, afforded her.

When the space program came to a halt in 1969, life changed once again. Billy turned to self-employment. He opened a tire and automotive service center, Davidson’s Tire Town with his oldest son, Mike, who had just graduated from high school, alongside him.

Faye went to work with Harris Semi-Conductor in administration to help support the household. She learned short-hand and other key secretarial skills required in those days. Yes… she actually had a steno pad and took shorthand notes as they were dictated to her. She later translated the notes into letter format. She went on to do bookkeeping for the family business after she left Harris. She finally retired a few years later.

The Davidson family business supported the family and allowed them to purchase a second home in West Jefferson, NC mountains. These were the years of cherished memories of mountain life with friends and family that now included grandchildren and a daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Many photo albums are filled with cherished photos of good times in West Jefferson in its four seasons of glorious beauty that is unique to the mountains.

Other than her family, one of the highlights of Faye’s life were the years she and Billy were involved in Harbor City Baptist Church. Billy served as a Deacon and Faye taught Sunday School. Billy and Faye loved their church and the many people they met there. They were blessed with many close friendships that lasted more than thirty years.

The grandchildren, Joel, Lisa and Wendy, are now adults and there are two great-grandchildren, Ian and Scarlett. Most of Faye’s extended family and church friends have passed away as did her husband Billy, of 67 years.

Faye was diagnosed with dementia in 2015. Dementia is a cruel master. It is a sweet release to leave this world and return home to be with all those she loved so dearly who passed away before she did.

It is with a sigh of relief yet bittersweet that she is now free. Mike, Terri, and Ronald, find comfort in knowing that their parents are once again together. We know they are overjoyed to be with each other again, and she will rejoice in their reunion and the freedom of being released from dementia.

We love you Mom and Dad. Mike, Terri and Ronald.