Linda "Ninna" Davis

Linda Earl Davis, born on November 16, 1933, in Athens, Alabama, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2024. Raised in a close-knit community, Linda grew into a remarkable woman whose strength, independence, and love for others left a lasting impact on everyone she met.

As a young woman, Linda enlisted in the Navy WAVES, proudly serving her country and playing on the Naval basketball team. During this time, while on base she met the love of her life, Marine, Porter John Davis, and they shared 63 years of marriage together.

Linda was known for her unwavering independence and her ability to tackle any task that came her way. Whether she was cooking, rewiring lamps, redoing plumbing, hanging wallpaper, or even reupholstering furniture, she approached everything with precision and pride. What many would have seen as necessity, Linda embraced as her way of life. Her remarkable skills and determination instilled confidence in her two daughters, Melissa and Catherine, to face any challenge life might present. She was also a formidable foe in league bowling.

But beyond her many talents, Linda's greatest gift was her kindness and how she treated others. Her home was always filled with love, and anyone who entered was welcomed with open arms. Linda cherished her time with family and, in her later years, divided her time between Toledo Bend and Lake Charles. She had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel valued and loved.

Linda is survived by her two daughters, Catherine Thomas (Bobby) and Melissa Davis; her grandchildren, Matt Thomas (Natalie), Michael Sonnier (Annabelle), and Kelli Malik (Zachariah); and her great-grandchildren, Julia Thomas, James Thomas, and Blakely Sonnier, all of Lake Charles.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Porter John Davis; her parents, Lela Mae Smith Davis and Earl Pettus Davis; her brothers, LeVaughn "Buck" Davis of Knoxville, TN, and Charles "Dick" Davis of Lexington, KY; her sisters, Janis Grisham of Beaufort, SC, and Lila Bellando of Berea, KY; and her honorary "Texas" sister, Patricia Davis.

The family would like to extend their most heartfelt love for her caregivers, Gina Lejeune, Sherri Simon, Rose Miller, Nikki Key, and Sheri Chandler.

A private interment will take place at Prien Memorial Park on October 16, 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Linda's memory to St. Jude's Research Hospital.