Denotra Veronica Davis (nee Smith)

Born: November 25, 1929

Died: September 8, 2018

Denotra (Dee Dee) Veronica Davis, 88, of DeKalb, Illinois, beloved wife of Douglas Q. Davis died at her home on September 8, 2018.  She was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, the happily anticipated daughter of Charles and Ida (nee Tucker) Smith. She was reared by her dearly loved Aunt Cheesie M. Tucker and her father in Jackson, Mississippi upon the death of her mother in 1929.

She attended Holy Ghost elementary and Holy Ghost high school in Jackson, attending Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She applied to the University of Michigan nursing school in 1950 but was denied entrance due to her race, whereupon she attended St. Anthony School of Nursing in Rockford, Illinois. In 1953, after completion of three days of state nursing boards, Denotra Smith became a registered nurse. She brought comfort, consolation, and care to countless patients in hospitals and emergency rooms in Iowa City, Iowa, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago, Geneva and Aurora, IL. She is still remembered by many in DeKalb as their favorite grade school nurse.

Denotra met her future husband, Douglas, in Rockford at a social gathering. She thought him rude. He considered her conceited. They argued. Three years later while he was serving in Korea in the U.S. Navy, Dee Dee and Doug were married and remained so for what would have been 64 years next month.

Dee Dee was a most excellent cook, baker and canner. She was an expert seamstress and taylor. Thanksgiving and Christmas the holiday table would be crowded with family, friends, and those to whom she was a surrogate "mom".  Her sons-in-law, all of whom she embraced as her own, were crazy about her and respected her biting commentary, humor, straightforwardness, loyalty, red beans and rice, vegetable soup and canned beets.

Denotra is survived by, profoundly loved and achingly missed by her husband Douglas, and four children, Denotra "Vicki"(George Slotsve),Daphne "Roni"(Stephan Racker), Deirdre "Dee Dee"(Justin Bend) and Douglas "Budgie". She will be missed by her grandchildren Kevin Davis, Stephanie Racker and step granddaughters Cierra and Sydney Bend.

Dee Dee was a lady of grace and dignity. She was kind, funny and independent, beautiful, and classy, possessing strength of character and mind. She fiercely loved, nurtured and defended her family. She took delight in the beauty and charm of birds and flowers. The passing of Denotra Veronica Davis, daughter, niece, wife, mother, nurse, friend and "mom" of many into the welcoming arms of our Lord has left those who knew and loved her privileged and blessed.

A Memorial Mass will be said on September 14, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 321 Pine Street, DeKalb, IL, with Father Dean Russell officiaiting.