Eleanor Davis

Eleanor Ames Davis

November 8, 1920 – January 5, 2018

Eleanor, the daughter of the Honorable Levin Nock Davis and Lela Thomas Ames Davis was born at Ames’ Ridge in Painter, VA on November 8, 1920.  She moved with her family to Front Street in Accomac where she attended Accomac High School (first through eleventh grades) and graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 1938.  Eleanor completed three years at the College of William and Mary, but left the College in 1941 as World War II was beginning, to pursue a degree from Strayer’s Business College in Washington, D.C.

After completing a secretarial science degree at Strayer’s in 1942, Eleanor was hired as an Executive Secretary for Miller & Chevalier, a Washington, D.C. law firm founded in 1920.  Miller & Chevalier is a top-ranked firm with practices in Tax, Litigation, International Law and Employee Benefits.  During her tenure at M&C, Eleanor was secretary to several of the firm’s managing and senior partners.  For 47 years, she commuted on buses and then, the Metro from Arlington and Falls Church to the firm’s location 2 blocks from the White House.  Her time away from the office was spent socializing and traveling with her friends, especially a group of her William & Mary classmates from the Class of 1942.  Her travels took her to more than 30 states, 10 countries, Bermuda and almost every island in the Caribbean.

Eleanor took great pride in her work and upon her retirement in 1990, received a special commendation by the lawyers of Miller & Chevalier, including a special letter from then President George H. W. Bush, for her years of excellent and devoted service.

Eleanor retired back to her family home in Accomac and enjoyed her many lifelong Eastern Shore friends and family members.  She was a lifelong member of Drummondtown United Methodist Church, a founding member of Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club and a founding member of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society.

She is predeceased by her parents; her brother, L. Franklin Davis; and sister-in-law, Ann Powell Davis.  She is survived by her three nieces, Margaret Davis Shields (husband, Wright) of New Bern, NC, Ann Davis Mewborn (husband, Scott) of Richmond, VA, and Mary Anthony Davis of Richmond, VA; three great-nieces, Claire Shields Sugg (husband, Adam) of Atlanta, GA, Gray Renn Mewborn, and Emma Page Custis Mewborn, both of Richmond, VA; and two great-nephews, Ray Jacob Shields of Falls Church, VA, and Liam Powell Davis-Vojta of Richmond, VA; as well as many Ames and Davis Family cousins.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, January 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Drummondtown United Methodist Church, and burial will follow at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Onancock, VA.  The family will receive friends and family at Sycamore Bend, Onancock, immediately following the burial service.

Memorial donations may be made to Drummondtown United Methodist Church, P.O Box 267, Accomac, VA  23301, or to the William & Mary Alumni Association, P.O. Box 2100, Williamsburg, VA  23187-2100, or www.giving.wm.edu.

Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.