Betty Green Davis, 80, departed this life on Thursday, June 4, 2020 while living in Bullhead City, Arizona. She was born Betty Louise Green, in Miami, Florida as the second of Reuben and Mary Green’s eight children. When Betty was a child, the family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where she spent her formative years. Betty attended Commerce High School in Springfield, MA, worked as a summer counselor at Camp Atwater, in North Brookfield, MA, and thereafter attended Becker Junior College in Worcester, MA, where she graduated in 1961.
Wanting to serve her nation and experience the rest of the country, Betty joined the U.S. Navy in 1961. It was through her Navy service that she would meet her loving, future husband, Perry Henderson Davis, while they were both stationed in Michigan. Perry and Betty married in February 1962, and soon thereafter, Betty would give birth to their son, Perry, Jr. while Perry was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. For the next ten years, the family moved from Naval base to Naval base, with Betty giving birth to two additional children, Rosemary Antoinette in Fallon, Nevada, and Elizabeth Leilani “Leilani” in Honolulu, Hawaii. Betty worked on the local bases and took care of the children during this time, while Perry completed 20 years of Naval service, which included two tours of duty in Vietnam.
When Perry retired from the U.S. Navy while stationed in Groton, CT, the family purchased a home and settled down in Oakdale, Connecticut, where Betty became very involved in many local activities, serving as a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader during the girls’ elementary school years. During this time, Betty was hired at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Library (“Library”) in New London, CT, to serve as a librarian and to assist the cadets with research assignments. As an avid reader, Betty thoroughly enjoyed her work organizing the periodicals, and interacting with the cadets, a perfect fit for her bubbly, welcoming personality. During her thirty-five years at the Library, she made quite the impression on many of the cadets, who were away from their families for the first time and saw Betty as a stand-in mother figure. Along with a full-time position at the Library, Betty also worked a part-time position at Sears, Inc., located in Waterford, CT, starting in the finance office and later joining the sales team in the Automotive Department where she retired.
It was during this time that Betty adopted a Buddhist philosophy, along with several of her siblings, and joined the local chapter of Soka Gokkai International (“SGI-USA”), becoming a very involved member of the women’s group. Betty was also very active in the New London, CT Section of the National Council of Negro Women (“NCNW”), where she was a lifetime member, serving a term as its president from 2008-2012, as well as active in a book club that was started by other NCNW members and herself. Betty was also very involved in the Kente Cultural Center (“Kente”), founded in New London, CT to promote the contributions and importance of African-American culture and history. Her work at Kente complemented Betty’s love of African and African-American art, which was always on display in her Oakdale, CT home. Throughout her life, Betty remained incredibly proud of her military service, participating in the annual Veteran’s Day luncheon that would honor local women who served in the military.
During her later years, while living with her daughter Leilani, Betty developed a close relationship with her grandson Sebastien, who was known for waking “Nana” on Saturday mornings and pulling her out of her bedroom so that they could play together.
For those that knew Betty, her extroverted personality, her infectious laugh, and her effervescent smile were always inviting. She will be terribly missed by her family and many friends. She is survived by her son Perry H. Davis of San Diego, CA, her daughter Rosemary A, Davis of Fort Mohave, AZ, her daughter Elizabeth Leilani Fevrier, her husband Salem Fevrier, and her grandson Sebastien Fevrier, all of Scotch Plains, NJ, her two younger sisters, Phyllis Green of Wethersfield, CT, and Lorraine Green of Arlington Heights, IL, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Reuben and Mary Green, Perry, and several siblings, including Essie Green Edmiston, Katherine Mutcherson, Reuben Green, Jr., Eli Green, and Judge Iraline G. Barnes. The family plans to hold a celebration of Betty’s life in Southeastern, CT at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to SGI-USA or NCNW.
Betty touched many lives and will be truly missed by all those who were honored to know her and who loved her…