Faye M. Davis
Faye Chandler Melton Davis, 91, passed away peacefully at her home in Charlottesville, Va. where she
lived with her daughter, on Sunday morning, November 5, 2023 from her vigilant battle with cancer.
Until a month ago, she continued to be active traveling and visiting with family, shopping, driving and
attending events at The Center at Belvedere.
Born February 1, 1932 on Market Street in Charlottesville Virginia, Faye was the youngest daughter of
Chester Lofton Melton and Lenora Randolph Bunch Melton. Her Virginia roots run deep as her family
ties date back to the 1630s. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband,
Laurence Alvin Davis, Sr., her sisters, Mary Frances Melton Glass, Mildred Barbara Melton Bibb Bishop
and Virginia Elizabeth Melton Bibb and a brother, Lorenzo Curtis Melton. Her daughter-in-law, Tevera
M. Davis, and her son-in-law, John M. Anderson, Jr. also predeceased her; both of whom she cherished.
Faye was raised in Charlottesville and attended McGuffey Primary School. She was a 1950 graduate of
Lane High School, where she was a proud member of the marching band, directed by Sharon B. Hoose.
She loved music and spent many nights dancing the jitterbug at Fry’s Spring Beach Club. As her senior
yearbook noted “a blue eyed blonde … many pretty clothes...she’s little, she’s wise, she’s a corker for
her size”.
She married Laurence Alvin Davis, Sr. on July 23, 1950, one week before his Marines Reserve unit was
called to serve in the Korean War. While her husband was deployed, she worked for Virginia Telephone
and Telegraph Company in Charlottesville before devoting her life to her children and family after their
first child was born in 1953. When her youngest child left for college at Virginia Tech, she briefly worked
for Charlottesville Radiologists, transcribing reports. After her husband’s death from cancer in 1987, she
enjoyed her later years volunteering with Hospice of the Piedmont and being a member of The Senior
Center. Always adventurous, she enjoyed living and meeting new friends in Dunnellon & Winter Haven,
Florida, Williamsburg, VA and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina before returning to Charlottesville, Virginia
in 2013. An avid traveler, she was proud to have gone to 49 of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, and Indonesia. She also visited Europe many times; most recently, in June when she took her
three daughters to Paris, Normandy and London. Her adventures traveling throughout Europe with her
granddaughter, Katie, brought her much joy and fond memories.
Loved by so many, she was fondly known as “Granny Faye”. She is survived by her children, Lauren D.
May and her husband, Mitchell “Mitch” of Washington, VA & Fort Pierre, SD, Laurence A. “Buddy” Davis,
Jr., and his wife, Wanda of Troy, VA, Chester “Chet” A. Davis of Creedmoor, NC, Karen D. Anderson of
Charlottesville, VA, William A. “Will” Davis of Woodstock, VA and Virginia “Jenny” A. Glenn and her
husband, Robert of Sandy Hook, VA. Also surviving are her twelve grandchildren: Justin G. (Katie) May,
E. Lindsay M. (Harold) Webster, Jennifer D. (Jay) Whitaker, Jr., Laurence A. “Lad” (Tiffany) Davis, III,
Chandler L. (Jason) Alm, Skylar N. (David) Gallemore, Elliott H. Davis, John M. “Tripp” Anderson, III,
Katherine “Katie” (Paul) Guillaro, Megan D. (Ryan) Lampert, Brandon U. Davis and Rachel G. (Jordan)
Charlesworth. Faye was also blessed with 16 great grandchildren with an additional little girl arriving to
Katie and Paul Guillaro in January and one great great grandson, Kash E. Johnson. Additional survivors
include numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Barbara Post, the staff and many doctors at UVA
Health and Heartland Hospice (Gentiva) for their support and care as our Mom fought her recent health
issues.
Family visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hill & Wood
Funeral Home, 201 1st St N., Charlottesville VA. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, November 9, 2023 at Riverview Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to the home of her
daughter, Karen, at 3413 N Indian Spring Road, Charlottesville, VA after the service to share
remembrances.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to The Center at Belvedere, 540
Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville, VA 22901 (434)974-7756 or online at: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E10412&id=3.
Condolences may be shared with the family on the Tribute Wall.
