Obituary for Barbara “B.J.” Davis

Barbara Jean Davis

October 14, 1953 – March 19, 2019

Barbara Jean Davis of Nardin and Bethany, Oklahoma, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday afternoon, March 19, 2019, at her Nardin home at the age of 65 years.

Barbara Jean Davis was born on October 14, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Howard and Wilma (Goad) Gentry. She grew up in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1971. BJ married Stephen Paul Davis on August 27, 1971, in Jenks, Oklahoma, and she furthered her education by attending Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Northern State University, Aberdeen, South Dakota.

B.J. worked at Dairy Freeze in Sapulpa during the summers while in high school. While attending O.R.U., she worked at Flair Flowers in Tulsa.

B.J. and Steve lived in Sapulpa & Tulsa, (where Mitchell was born on March 6, 1973) until Steve joined the Army in 1974. They were stationed at Ft. Sill,Oklahoma, from 1974 -1976 (Marcy was born February 18, 1975, at Ft. Sill). While in Lawton, Steve and B.J. were active in their local church and helped start the Turning Point Christian Servicemen’s Center in Lawton. The family was stationed at Baumholder, Germany. (Dec 1978-Feb 1980). (Matthew was born December 13, 1977, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Kaiserslautern, Germany). While in Germany, B.J. was active in the Base Chapel system leading Bible Studies and served as Choir Director at the Wetzel Chapel. B.J. also cleaned Base Family Apartments part-time. She gained a reputation on final check out when the Base Home inspector saw her at the inspection the apartment would be approved without a walkthrough. B.J. and Steve volunteered at the Baumholder Christian Servicemen’s center where Steve sat on the Center Board and also became an Exhorter in the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. The family returned to Ft. Sill in February 1980 until February 1981.

While in Lawton, B.J. earned her Oklahoma Real-estate License. Steve completed 7 years in the Army reaching the Grade of Staff Sargent.

When Steve was accepted at Seminary, the family moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, (May 1982-May 1984). B.J. thought the women in Tennessee were quilters and she would only go if she learned how to quilt first. She gathered the quilters in the 9th & Lee Church of God and told them they had to teach her how to quilt which became her passion until the present day. This gracious group of saints agreed and told her to select a pattern. B.J., being the underachiever she always was, went to the Public Library and checked out every book on quilting. Long story a bit shorter, when we joined Mt. Olive Church in Tennessee no one quilted, but everyone said, “Oh my grandmother was a quilter.” Steve attended the Church of God School of Theology and served as Pastor of Evangelism at Mt. Olive Church of God. While in Cleveland, TN, B.J. volunteered at Mt. Olive COG, singing in the choir. B.J. and Steve sang duets during worship, and she also worked with the high school ministry. B.J. worked for Cherokee Food Service as the General Manager for Taco Bell in Cleveland, Tennessee.

On June 1, 1984, the family arrived in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where Steve was appointed as Senior Pastor of Aberdeen Church of God. While in Aberdeen, B.J. attended Northern State University and also worked at MicroAge Computer Systems as a Computer Sales Associate certified in Apple and Microsoft computer sales and a Certified Petree Systems Specialist. B.J. continued to develop her love of quilting and also got hooked on turning clay pots. For two years we had a potter’s kick-wheel set up in the entry hall of our split-level home. Mitch, Marcy, and Matt helped by taking turns making one-legged wind sprints on the drive wheel.

B.J. and the crew moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, in August 1986, where she worked for Taco Bell, USA, as the General Manager of a new Taco Bell in Lake Charles, (the 1st year was a 1 Million Dollar Store, pretty good for a girl from Sapulpa). B.J. became the Lake Charles Area District manager in 1990. Mitch, Marcy, and Matt went to Jr. High & High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. During this time Steve worked many jobs and in 1995 joined Sam’s Club working his way to becoming the Business Manager for Sam’s Club in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Temple, Abilene, and San Antonio, Texas, retiring in 2002.

In 1994, B.J. went to work on the set-up team for a new Wal-Mart Super Center in Sulfur, Louisiana. B.J. has always been organized. [When Matthew entered Kindergarten, and B.J. became the at-home Mom -alias: Commander in Chief of everything. The children called a family meeting. “MOM, please get a job because you are driving us crazy!”). B.J. did not have a resume, instead she had a binder that had not only contained her work history, but every certification of training, and all the awards she had received since 9th Grade Sapulpa High Concert Choir membership. When she presented her dossier to the General manager, he promoted her to Bakery Manager on the spot. BJ worked for Wal-Mart for 23 years.

B.J. was promoted in 1995 to Assistant Manager working in Texas serving Wal-Mart associates and customers in Jasper, Bellmead, Coppers Cove, and Abilene. B.J. and Steve moved to Texas, leaving the children as empty nesters in Lake Charles. In 2001, she was promoted to Co-Manager moving to New Braunfels, Texas. In 2003, B.J. was promoted to the Wal-Mart Home office team as the Market District Grocery Manager for Wal-Mart Supercenters of Western Oklahoma, Southwestern Kansas, and North Central Texas. B.J.’s office was located in the El Reno, Oklahoma, Super Center so she brought Steve kicking and screaming to Oklahoma with her. B.J. started work and Steve packed the house, and a Wal-Mart moving van hauled their household items and B.J.’s quilting studio (including Steve’s 14 Foot Gammill Long Arm Quilting Machine) to Oklahoma City. In 2010, she rejoined the local Wal-Mart management team in Oklahoma City in the Neighborhood Market and in 2013 transferred to the Bell Isle Wal-Mart Supercenter in Oklahoma City. And yes, B.J.’s passion for quilting did not skip a beat. During this time in Oklahoma City, Steve & B.J. volunteered at St. John’s United Methodist Church. She sang in the Choir and did volunteer work as well. Steve joined the staff of St. John’s as the Director of Outreach Ministries. B.J. and Steve began their path to pastoral ministry with Steve being appointed as Servant Senior pastor of St. John’s United Methodist Church in June 2006-June 2013 while he earned his Master of Divinity Degree from St. Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University. Steve has served as Servant Senior pastor of Watonga First United Methodist Church, June 2013- June 2016, Waynoka First United Methodist Church, June 2016-June 2017, and beginning June 2017-present Steve is serving the Nardin community of faith as Servant Pastor at Nardin United Methodist Church.

B.J. was a dedicated quilter. While attending a quilt guild meeting the speaker shared the secret of her success as a quilter, “You can complete any quilt project by working 15 minutes a day.” This became B.J.’s motto not just for quilting but her success in all aspects of her life. Before each moved she checked the internet for the contact information of the local quilt guild before Steve packed the first box.

B.J. and Steve have a house in Bethany, which has become the family center for the Oklahoma City area. B.J. worked out of the Bethany house. After Steve was appointed to the church in Nardin, B.J. looked forward to spending her days off in Nardin. The Nardin community of faith became her place of solstice. B.J. loves the Nardin folk, all of whom demonstrate God’s unconditional love and have not wavered since day one of making our home with the Nardin community of faith. By God’s Grace, B.J. spent her final 15 months in her beloved Nardin community.

God has been carrying B.J. & Steve on this journey since December 6, 2017 when B.J. began to show signs of brain cancer.

B.J., by God’s Grace, beat the glioblastoma multiform grade 4.

B.J. Davis joined the Church Triumphant March 19, 2019, at 5:10 p.m. with the love of her life, Steve by her side.

Rex Reese, their friend, representing the Nardin Community of Faith, was there supporting Steve while Amy with Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, insured BJ was comfortable and was a great comfort to Steve in this time by making necessary notifications & arrangements.

At 5:11 p.m. B.J. was safe, warm, & whole in God’s arms

At 5:31 B.J. hugged & loved on the Lord Jesus Christ, thanking Christ for her salvation

At 6:00 she asked Jesus Christ where the Heavenly Quilt Guild Table was set up so she could sign up & get to work.

To God be the Glory, for healing, wholeness & being children of God. We have through the Lord Jesus Christ, support & empowerment through the Holy Spirit.

To God be the Glory for the prayers and support we have received from our many friends who generously gave their time and financial aid.

To God be the Glory for all who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, have shared agape (God’s unconditional) love, who are indeed God’s arms, hands, and feet.

All of you are a blessing through being living examples of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The family appreciates the clergy of the Oklahoma Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church who through the Clergy Crisis Fund helped with the final expenses.

The family is grateful for the healing arts ministered through all the Medical professionals who attended to B.J.

God’s Grace is sufficient for us. Through this journey, we have been extremely blessed. We have witnessed God’s unconditional love demonstrated through God’s children from the Eastern seaboard -Washington DC and Augusta, GA, – to the Little Sahara in Waynoka, OK. [GoFundMe]

Children of God are bringing us food, supplying needed financial aid, and a “How can I be helpful.” Children of God have walked up to us in ice cream shops and fast food restaurants, across the world wide web , and poured love, support, and strength into our souls. You see, I do not believe all God’s angels (messengers) have wings. My witness is that God’s angels wear jeans, shorts, cowboy hats, golf shorts, wing-tips, boots (dress or ranch – gleaming or a bit sticky on the bottom), flip flops, tennis shoes, and yeah, no shoes at all. We’ve needed the angles who give fantastic hugs and let the accuser of the saints see the angels with wings and flaming swords.

B.J. was preceded in death by her parents, Howard Gentry and Wilma Goad Gentry and her brother, Dean Gentry.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Steve Davis of Nardin; a daughter, Marcy Davis Nelson and husband Robert of Augusta, Georgia; two sons, Mitchell A. Davis and Matthew P. Davis, both of Oklahoma City; and a granddaughter, Leigh Ann Davis of Alva, and of course Kitty-Kitty, Nardin, OK.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 26th in the Nardin United Methodist Church with Rev. Rob Harris officiating. Honorary Pallbearers are all of our friends who have been God’s agape arms that help carry B.J. this last year.

Family requests in lieu of flowers that a memorial had been established in her honor with the Nardin United Methodist Church Benevolence Fund.

There will also be a Celebration of Life for those in the Oklahoma City are at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 30th at New Hope United Methodist Church,11600 N Council Rd, OKC, OK 73162, with Dr. J.D. Ward officiating.

Family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be sent to the New Hope United Methodist Church Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.