Sara Davis

Sara Frances McDaniel Davis passed away on August 1, 2025, after a life filled with music through which she provided much joy to others.

Born on June 12, 1926, in Newton Mississippi, Sara was the third of six children of Anise Pickering McDaniel and Major Cyrus McDaniel Sr. She spent 12 years in Goodman Mississippi where her Father was President of Holmes Junior College and then completed High School in Clinton, Mississippi.

From an early age, Sara was exceptionally gifted in music, having perfect pitch. She had a true gift for music and the arts, and she earned a degree in musical performance from Mississippi College. In a family filled with gifted musicians, Sara was a true standout. Whether at the piano or with a paintbrush in hand, she brought joy and inspiration to those around her.

Sara was chosen to go with the Atlanta Baptist Associational Choir on a singing tour of 7 European countries, often traveling by train and connecting to ferries, and she loved those memories of singing in many beautiful venues.

Throughout her life, Sara served as pianist or organist in churches throughout Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Sara also used her musical gifts to serve her community, playing piano at convalescent homes, civic clubs and other places where she brought joy, and was recognized by numerous organizations for her contributions.

For many years, Sara made her home in Prentiss, Mississippi, before settling in Savannah, Tennessee, where she devoted herself to raising her beloved son, Curtis. Her warmth, creativity, and resilience were constants in their life together.

Sara was the organist at Southside Baptist Church in Savannah and only retired at 94 years of age in 2020 due to the Pandemic.

However, even in her later years, her musical talent remained vibrant. Just weeks after celebrating her 99th birthday, she was still leading sing-alongs at Riverwick Assisted Living, where she had been a cherished resident for 15 years.

Sara had a particular fondness for painting lighthouses, symbols of guidance and hope, and many of her loved ones proudly display her artwork in their homes. Her legacy lives on not only through her art and music, but also in the lives she touched with her kindness and creativity.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carmen; her parents, Major and Anise McDaniel, and her five siblings: Anise, Annette, Major Jr., Jane, and Jack.

Sara is survived by her devoted son, Curtis, and a large extended family of nieces and nephews who will forever miss her gentle spirit, her musical gifts, and the latest masterpiece she would excitedly share.

Her life was a song that never lost its melody—a legacy of grace, joy, and artistic brilliance that will echo in the hearts of those who loved her.