August 17 , 2007
The entire NAACP family extends sincerest sympathy to the family of Phyllis Wright-Davis and seeks to recognize and honor her dedicated work in the Rome Branch and the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP. Wright-Davis, the branch’s first vice president, was murdered last Saturday, the result of a suspected robbery. She was 49.
Wright-Davis served as the advisor for the Rome Youth Council from 1985-1999 and was the State Advisor for the NAACP’s Georgia Youth and College Division from 1997-1998. She became active in the Association at an early age following her father, Joe, a former branch president, to NAACP meetings.
“The entire NAACP pauses at this moment to share in the sadness but also celebrates the joy of remembering such a beautiful, rich and transforming life,” said NAACP Chief Operating Officer Nelson B. Rivers III. “Phyllis’ life was a great gift to the NAACP. Her work literally transformed the lives of countless young people. Her patience, kindness, generosity, and magnificent smile changed the way young people in the NAACP saw themselves and therefore changed the way they saw their future.”
“We are grieved along with the family for this loss,” said Rome NAACP Branch President Elihue Curtis. “We are saddened to a point where words cannot express. Phyllis was a great trooper for the NAACP. She is in the bosom of the Maker and I can rejoice in knowing that she is there. She’ll be greatly missed.”
Before her death she was working with the South Rome Redevelopment Corporation to establish a scholarship program for students at a local elementary school. That Sept. 30 choral celebration will be dedicated to her. Wright-Davis was helping plan the choral celebration to coincide with author Maya Angelou’s visit to Rome next month. The musical event will establish a scholarship fund to benefit the honor roll students of Anna K. Davie Elementary School and the Boys & Girls Club community center in South Rome.
“She volunteered deeply…just a caring person,” said Alvin Jackson, chairman of the local Martin Luther King Celebration Commission and former Rome NAACP Branch president. ”She was active in the community all her life. What stands out was her affection for children. She always gave. Words can’t describe what she meant to this community.”
“She was low key and never wanted any praise,” Jackson added. “It’s hard to accept [her death]. It’s had the whole town torn up.”
Along with managing her family’s mortuary business, Wright-Davis was also active in the local Martin Luther King Celebration Commission, her sorority and an organizer of the community’s annual Feed the Hungry Thanksgiving Feast that provides for about 2,500 on that holiday. Last December she received Rome’s ‘Heart of the Community’ Award for all her efforts aimed at helping others.
Two days before her untimely death Wright-Davis held a meeting to help reorganize the youth council. Blessedly, another has already come forward to take on the task.
She is survived by her husband Ralph Davis, sons Phillip Davis and Brian Davis, who is coming from Iraq for the services; grandchildren Brianna and Zion Davis, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wright; brothers Joseph and James Wright, and sister, Angela Wright-Rheaves.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Rome NAACP Youth Council at P.O. Box 2894, Rome, Ga. 30161.
Her wake is from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Thankful Baptist Church located at 935 Spider Webb Drive while the funeral is noon tomorrow at Fellowship Baptist Church at 314 Burnett Ferry Road, both in Rome, Ga.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
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