Cora Davis

Dr. C. Anne Davis, age 69, of Waco, died at Hillcrest Hospital on Thursday, November 9. A memorial service will be held at Seventh & James Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m., on Monday, November 13, with Dr. Raymond Bailey conducting the service.

Anne Davis was born to Samuel L. and Annie Mae Davis in Baskerville, Virginia, on April 17, 1937. She grew up in a rural farming community.

Dr. Davis was a pioneer in the field of Church Social Work. After earning degrees from Averett College, Westhampton College of the University of Richmond, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Kent School of Social Work of the University of Louisville, Anne began her work as Executive Director of the Baptist Community Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Later she served as Director of Portland Baptist Center, a ministry of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, in Louisville, before joining the faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

At Southern Seminary she served as Professor of Social Work, Director of Social Work, and Director of Professional Studies in the School of Religious Education.

Anne led the School of Social Work at Southern to become the first non-university to be accredited for the Master of Social Work degree. She served as the first Dean of that school.

She retired from Southern Seminary in 1995. Anne moved to Waco, Texas, in 1998. Her close friend and colleague, Pat Bailey, who was then Executive Director of the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, convinced Anne to come out of retirement to become Director of Operations for that center.

Dr. Davis contributed to a number of professional journals and to several books. She spoke at a number of national conferences and at the Baptist World Alliance in Stockholm, Sweden.

Baylor University recognized her contributions to academics and ministry with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

Anne Davis was scholar, administrator, and teacher, but she was first and foremost a minister of the Gospel, advocating for the weak, oppressed and suffering. She will be long remembered by the many students she prepared to go into the world to do Jesus' work among the disadvantaged.

Anne Davis is survived by two sisters, Janice Crutchfield of Chase City, Virginia and Carolyn Davis of Dallas, Texas; and Mike Davis of Arvonia, Virginia. She loved her two nieces, four nephews, and seven great-nephews who survive her.

The family appreciates the faithful, attentive care of Linda Hendricks, Home Health Care Worker.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Seventh & James Baptist Church, 602 James Avenue, Waco, TX 76706, or any agency serving the poor.