Supervisor Emerita Alberta Woods Davis

Alberta Woods Davis was born on March 27, 1934, to Leola Folley and Edward Woods in Eufaula, Alabama, a historic Alabama community that sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Her family has lived in, or near, Eufaula since the 1840s or ‘50s.

“Berta’s” school years were spent attending Eufaula’s Baptist Academy and Van Buren Street Junior High School. Unfortunately, her formal schooling was precipitously curtailed mid-seventh grade when her step-father took the position that “a girl didn’t need more than a 7th grade education,” and insisted that she drop out. Much later in life she would get her high school GED and after God, family and church, valued education highest.

In late 1948 or early 1949, she met H.A. (as he was called then) Davis, who smitten, seems to have fallen in love with her at first sight. They began a romance and married in November 1949. Over the years, three sons and one daughter joined the family.

In 1951 Henry—as he was now called—joined the Air Force. With the exception of South Korea and Wyoming, Alberta and the children were able to follow him to his postings, which included Ohio, England, Oklahoma, Alaska, Texas, and Massachusetts. The family settled permanently in Topeka in 1968.

Although for many years she had nursed a hunger to find God and live a saved life, it was not until early 1961, in Anchorage, Alaska, that she truly gave her life to God, and joined the Church of God in Christ. She was licensed as an evangelist missionary there.

Over the next 50 years she assumed greater leadership roles in various women’s auxiliaries of the Church, rising to Interim Kansas Central Jurisdictional Supervisor in 1989, and then to permanent Kansas Central Jurisdictional Supervisor in 1990, a role she occupied for over 25 years under three Bishops. In addition, she steadfastly and loyally supported Pastor Davis’ ministry and Emmanuel Temple Church, which they built in 1973.

Alberta departed this life on April 17, 2018, following an eleven day vigil by family and close friends. In the end, her uncommonly strong heart, which, along with her lungs, was the only thing keeping her alive, grew progressively weaker and simply gave out. She is preceded in death by her husband, mother and father, two half-sisters, and a half-brother.

Supervisor Emerita Alberta Woods Davis leaves to cherish her memory and rejoice in her home going three sons, one daughter, a daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, a half-sister, a niece, innumerable cousins, and an extended family of over 30 children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, all of whom she and Pastor Davis welcomed into their home and raised as their own.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

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