Mary Lucille (Davis) Ware

On March 1, 1941, in Tracy, Texas Mary Lucille Davis was born to Edgar and Alice (Jackson) Davis.  She attended Rockdale schools and later moved to Corpus Christi, Texas.  There she met and married Oliver Jackson Sr. and afterwards they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan and shared three boys, Greg, Oliver Jr. and Anthony.  

Mary worked for pharmaceutical company UpJohn ultimately becoming part of Pfzier.  In addition, she worked as volunteer for Kid’s Connection Program – a mentor program run by the Kalamazoo County Department of Social Services and spent more than 3,000 hours as “big sister”.  She also gave back by being a foster parent to many children.

Upon her retirement, Mary moved back to her hometown of Rockdale in 2005 and quickly readapted to the community.  She worked as a home care worker and became like family to her patients.  She was caring, attentive, and they loved her quick wit and fun personality.

 While in Kalamazoo she was member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan under the leadership of Dr. J. Louis Felton Pastor.   After moving back to Rockdale, she rejoined her childhood church Rising Star Baptist Church where the Davis family has been members for over 100-years.  

Mary loved interacting with people, saying spontaneous remarks to get a quick chuckle, where most times she would laugh first at her own jokes.  She loved baking her famous pound cake for family and spending quality time and deeply loving on them.

Mary is preceded in death by: her beloved husband Frank Ware, whom she wed in 1980 and were married for 19-years until his death in 1999; her parents, Edgar and Alice Davis; and her siblings, Gene and Geneva (twins passed at birth) Ben, Waymon, Julia, Clara Bell, Leonard, Herman, Henry and Linda.  

She leaves to mourn: three sons, Greg, Oliver Jr. and Anthony; granddaughter/daughter whom she adopted, Tykeisha Walker (Deon); grandchildren, Renitha Evins (Lawrence), Jaron Jackson (Reena), Peyton Jackson (Kristin) and Remington Jackson;  eight great-grandchildren, Ja’Niya Wilson, Jayla Wilson, Virgil Witherspoon, Lawrence Sykes Jr., Jerail Sykes, Peyton Jackson Jr., Millie Jackson and Mireya Sykes; two great-great grandchildren, K’Lani Wilson and Laylani Sykes; two sisters, Bessie Davis and Beverly (Charles); one brother, Lafayette Davis; along with host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

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