November 14, 1919 - November 6, 2013
Davis, Bertha L. November 6, 2013, Age 93 years. Funeral Service at BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH, 1834 SECTION RD, CINCINNATI on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM. Friends may call Saturday, November 16 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH. Burial at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Oh. J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home serving the family.
Our Matriarch
Bertha LuVesta McBride Davis, 93, of Cincinnati, Ohio departed this life on November 6, 2013. She was born to the late Alonzo McBride and Hannah Copeland (McBride) Carter on November 14, 1919 in Troy, Alabama. She was the youngest of three. She was married to the late Otha Field Davis and one child, Jacquelyn Davis Williams, was born of this union.
Bertha accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was baptized at Beulah Baptist Missionary Church over 70 years ago and served as a member of the Young Matron, Missionary, and the Willing Workers.
Bertha was educated in the Cincinnati Public Schools. In 1924, she attended Stowe School and graduated from Old Woodward High School. She attended Poro School of Beauty Arts in Cincinnati, Oh and received her diploma, Cosmetology in 1947. She began her journey as a hair stylist at the Sterling Hotel, where the famous Cotton Club stars would come to get their hair done. She was an entrepreneur and wanted to own her own beauty shop. With the help of her husband, she was able to obtain her goal. She owned a total of 3 beauty salons: Powder Puff Shop, and Davis Beaute. She treated her customers with royalty; sometimes picking them up and dropping them off at home; doing their hair at their home when they couldn't make it to the shop; and even doing hair in her own home many times. She was recognized and honored as being one of the oldest black entrepreneurs in Cincinnati. She enjoyed doing hair for over 60 years. In 2006 she retired and closed her business so that she could care for her husband at home. She loved her some "Otha" and often you would hear her calling him "Daddy" just as her children would. It was only natural that she chose to stop working and be with him.
Bertha had many hobbies which included cooking, dancing, music, and bowling, horse racing, taking bus trips, going to see theater plays, traveling, modeling and dressed to impress always. She especially loved wearing her hats to church.
Bertha also loved her extended family and friends. Every New Years Day, she invited everyone to join in celebrating the New Year by opening up her home and serving dinner to all who wished to come. Sometimes it would be 150 or more people coming in and out within that day. The Davis/Braxton Family Reunion planning committee held their meetings in her home for many years, including this year for the 2013 reunion. Her devotion to family was clear in all that she did.
Bertha was preceded in death by her two sisters, Mayoce McBride and Hattie Smith; her daughter, Jacquelyn; grandson, Omar and two great-grandchildren, La Vesta, Jermaine and a very dear niece, Vivian.
Bertha is survived by five grandchildren: Jonnie, Aquil (Otha Kenneth) and Jon of Cincinnati, OH, Charletta Tolbert and Loeita Williams of Chicago, IL.; 13 great grandchildren: Andre Sr., Deronda, Michael, Jahmari Sr., Kenisha, Carlos, Bernice, Amirah, Natasha ,Daphne, Asha, MyYahna, and Angelica; 16 great-great grandchildren: Kimberly, Andre Jr., Jeremie, Tyran, Shannon, Keenan, Cierra, Nina, Jermya , Tahid, Kenya, Jelani, Jahmari Jr., Ja'mari, Ja'hari , Serenity; 4 great- great-great grandchildren: Aliviah , Christopher, Khloe', and Lamaj. She also leaves to mourn two cousins: Rosa Odom and Marietta White and a host of nieces, nephews, and the many, many friends who often called her mom, grandma or auntie. We shall not weep long, for we know where you are. We know that you are happy now and that makes us happy for you. We love you Mama. All Your children