In Memory: Luanna Oxendine Davis, 90, Cared Deeply About Local Politics

Editor's note: the following obituary was submitted by the family of Luanna Oxendine Davis.

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Luanna Oxendine Davis was born on March 19, 1926 in Red Springs, NC to Irene and Murton Oxendine. She was very proud of her Native American heritage and learned great lessons of hard work and perseverance from growing up on the family farm in Maxton, NC.

She graduated from the South Carolina Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Columbia, SC in 1946 and began her career as a registered nurse. In 1950, she married Keith Dargen Bristow and they had two sons, Rudy Gene Bristow and Keith Davol "Dave" Bristow. Luanna worked as a private duty nurse and in hospitals for more than 20 years. Some say that the phrase "charge nurse" was created to describe her work as a leader who put patient needs first and didn't let obstacles stand in her way.

In 1962 she married Philip Davis who had two sons, Colin Davis and Philip DeLay Davis. To this blended family they added daughter Wendy Davis in 1965. After moves to Connecticut, Sandy Springs and New York, the family settled in Roswell, GA in 1973.

Luanna decided to start her second career as a seamstress in 1979, opening Luann'as Fashion Service Studio. Working until retiring to care for her husband, she did alterations and custom design work. Having learned her craft from a French fashion designer in New York, many a bridal party dazzled from the gorgeous custom gowns Luanna created. She developed a close relationship with the Roswell Police Department over her many years of doing alterations of their uniforms.

Luanna was known as a welcoming and giving neighbor and friend. She gained much joy from gardening, cooking, history reading and embroidery, and she cared deeply about local issues and political affairs staying active when many slow down.

She passed away peacefully at her home in Roswell on May 9, 2016.

Luanna will be missed by her children, their wives, Susie Bristow and Cathy Bristow; grandchildren, Keith L. Bristow, Bridget K. Bristow, Derek K. (Jessica) Bristow; many nieces/nephews; and members of the Chestnut Ridge Christian Church family.

Luanna was preceded in death by her parents, all seven of her siblings (Wilton Oxendine, Myrtle Berry, Alford Oxendine, Thaddus Oxendine, Mary Lois Lowry, Sally Oxendine and Denver Ross Oxendine), her husbands and her youngest son, Dave.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. June 4 at Chestnut Ridge Christian Church (2663 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30062.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a gift in her memory to the Mary McKenzie Edwards Nursing Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which gives financial support to students of Native American descent studying nursing.

You can contribute online using this link: uncp.edu/giving/advancement.

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Image via Wendy Davis