On January 20, 1951 he married the love of his life, Betty Miranda [Robinson] Davis, from St. Matthews, SC. He was from Norway, South Carolina and spent his early childhood growing up in rural Orangeburg County, SC. His very first job was at the age of 12, plowing behind a mule in the farm fields of rural Orangeburg County. He earned $.25 an hour for this job. Their family went through hard times during the Depression. They lost their family farm & home place in Norway, SC, but they all worked hard to recover from that setback and led meaningful and successful lives.
In the late 1940s, he worked for a time at The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg. He was a tall, lanky fellow so when the newspaper printing press would get jammed he would slip underneath in the small space and fix the jam. During one of these episodes the press was accidently turned back on and he lost three of his fingers on his right hand. He was awarded several thousand dollars compensation for the loss of his fingers. Little did he know that during his hospital stay, his future wife Betty saw him for the first time as she was in the hospital visiting her mother who was ill. Her mother told her to walk to the end of the hospital hall and take a look at the handsome, young man that had his fingers cut off. Cotton and Betty would meet later at the Orangeburg County Fair as their brothers and sisters set them up as the third couple in the three brothers dating three sisters set up. A triple date that eventually ended up with three eternally, loving married couples in the early 1950s.
It was shortly after his finger accident that he went into the upholstery business with his brother, Lavern. He used some of his compensation award as seed money to get the things that they needed to begin the business. Lavern handled the furniture side of the business and he handled the automobile side. In time he was known throughout the Orangeburg and Calhoun County area as one of the best auto upholsterors. He was especially known for revitalizing and making the interiors of early model automobiles come back to life.
He had a special place in his heart for his four daughters that he lovingly referred to as his "living dolls". He was a very family oriented man and spent all of his free time with his children, grandchildren and family. He taught all his daughters how to change a car tire and how to change the oil in a car. He said he wanted his daughters to be able to help themselves and not have to depend on a man to do it for them. He wanted them to be able to take care of themselves. His adult hobbies were camping with family, deer hunting and fishing. He also liked working in his family's vegetable garden because he knew in that way he was providing for his family. He would tell his daughters that he may not have much to give them monetarily but he gave them a last name that was clean and he expected each of them to keep it clean during their lifetime to pass on to their kids.
He was baptized at an early age at Willow Swamp Baptist Church, Norway, SC. He and Betty started attending First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg in the early 1950s. In the early 1980s, they began attending church at First Baptist of Orangeburg. He was a children's Sunday School teacher from the 1970's until the early 1990s. He and Betty were both teetotalers. Cotton smoked until the early 1970s when he quit and never smoked again. He would give the cigarette boxes to his youngest children to play with and keep stuff in.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in the late 1980s. He had an operation to remove the cancer. The cancer came back on his liver in early 1990 (stage IV) which was inoperable. The cancer had metastasized the outside of his liver. He started chemotherapy right away. He was certain he was going to beat cancer and was an inspiration to his entire family the way he fought to stay on this earth with them. Heaven gained a very special angel on the morning of January 28, 1992.
Obit from The Times and Democrat; Orangeburg, SC
January 29, 1992
Laurie T. (Cotton) Davis, age 63, of 910 Green Street, NE, Orangeburg, died Tuesday, January 28, 1992 at The Regional Medical Center. Mr. Davis was born January 1, 1929, in Norway, a son of the late Luther Edgar Davis and Maggie Rowell Davis. He was a member of First Baptist Church and taught first grade Sunday School. He was retired from the upholstery business.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Betty Robinson Davis of Orangeburg; four daughters, Mrs. Gracie Sanford, Mrs. Donna Moorer and Mrs. Laurie Rickenbaker, all of Orangeburg and Mrs. Beth Thomas of Columbia; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Boltin and Mrs. Marian Kennemore, both of Orangeburg; three brothers, Cecil Davis of Liberal, Kansas and Welborne and L. L. Davis, both of Orangeburg; and seven grandchildren. The funeral service for Mr. Davis was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Orangeburg with the Reverend Jack Anderson officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Wayne Davis, Webbie Davis, Jay Robinson, Greg Ackerman, Ray Williams and Theron Inabinet.
COD: Colon Cancer w/metastasis to the liver
In the late 1940s, he worked for a time at The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg. He was a tall, lanky fellow so when the newspaper printing press would get jammed he would slip underneath in the small space and fix the jam. During one of these episodes the press was accidently turned back on and he lost three of his fingers on his right hand. He was awarded several thousand dollars compensation for the loss of his fingers. Little did he know that during his hospital stay, his future wife Betty saw him for the first time as she was in the hospital visiting her mother who was ill. Her mother told her to walk to the end of the hospital hall and take a look at the handsome, young man that had his fingers cut off. Cotton and Betty would meet later at the Orangeburg County Fair as their brothers and sisters set them up as the third couple in the three brothers dating three sisters set up. A triple date that eventually ended up with three eternally, loving married couples in the early 1950s.
It was shortly after his finger accident that he went into the upholstery business with his brother, Lavern. He used some of his compensation award as seed money to get the things that they needed to begin the business. Lavern handled the furniture side of the business and he handled the automobile side. In time he was known throughout the Orangeburg and Calhoun County area as one of the best auto upholsterors. He was especially known for revitalizing and making the interiors of early model automobiles come back to life.
He had a special place in his heart for his four daughters that he lovingly referred to as his "living dolls". He was a very family oriented man and spent all of his free time with his children, grandchildren and family. He taught all his daughters how to change a car tire and how to change the oil in a car. He said he wanted his daughters to be able to help themselves and not have to depend on a man to do it for them. He wanted them to be able to take care of themselves. His adult hobbies were camping with family, deer hunting and fishing. He also liked working in his family's vegetable garden because he knew in that way he was providing for his family. He would tell his daughters that he may not have much to give them monetarily but he gave them a last name that was clean and he expected each of them to keep it clean during their lifetime to pass on to their kids.
He was baptized at an early age at Willow Swamp Baptist Church, Norway, SC. He and Betty started attending First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg in the early 1950s. In the early 1980s, they began attending church at First Baptist of Orangeburg. He was a children's Sunday School teacher from the 1970's until the early 1990s. He and Betty were both teetotalers. Cotton smoked until the early 1970s when he quit and never smoked again. He would give the cigarette boxes to his youngest children to play with and keep stuff in.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in the late 1980s. He had an operation to remove the cancer. The cancer came back on his liver in early 1990 (stage IV) which was inoperable. The cancer had metastasized the outside of his liver. He started chemotherapy right away. He was certain he was going to beat cancer and was an inspiration to his entire family the way he fought to stay on this earth with them. Heaven gained a very special angel on the morning of January 28, 1992.
Obit from The Times and Democrat; Orangeburg, SC
January 29, 1992
Laurie T. (Cotton) Davis, age 63, of 910 Green Street, NE, Orangeburg, died Tuesday, January 28, 1992 at The Regional Medical Center. Mr. Davis was born January 1, 1929, in Norway, a son of the late Luther Edgar Davis and Maggie Rowell Davis. He was a member of First Baptist Church and taught first grade Sunday School. He was retired from the upholstery business.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Betty Robinson Davis of Orangeburg; four daughters, Mrs. Gracie Sanford, Mrs. Donna Moorer and Mrs. Laurie Rickenbaker, all of Orangeburg and Mrs. Beth Thomas of Columbia; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Boltin and Mrs. Marian Kennemore, both of Orangeburg; three brothers, Cecil Davis of Liberal, Kansas and Welborne and L. L. Davis, both of Orangeburg; and seven grandchildren. The funeral service for Mr. Davis was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Orangeburg with the Reverend Jack Anderson officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Wayne Davis, Webbie Davis, Jay Robinson, Greg Ackerman, Ray Williams and Theron Inabinet.
COD: Colon Cancer w/metastasis to the liver
On January 20, 1951 he married the love of his life, Betty Miranda [Robinson] Davis, from St. Matthews, SC. He was from Norway, South Carolina and spent his early childhood growing up in rural Orangeburg County, SC. His very first job was at the age of 12, plowing behind a mule in the farm fields of rural Orangeburg County. He earned $.25 an hour for this job. Their family went through hard times during the Depression. They lost their family farm & home place in Norway, SC, but they all worked hard to recover from that setback and led meaningful and successful lives.
In the late 1940s, he worked for a time at The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg. He was a tall, lanky fellow so when the newspaper printing press would get jammed he would slip underneath in the small space and fix the jam. During one of these episodes the press was accidently turned back on and he lost three of his fingers on his right hand. He was awarded several thousand dollars compensation for the loss of his fingers. Little did he know that during his hospital stay, his future wife Betty saw him for the first time as she was in the hospital visiting her mother who was ill. Her mother told her to walk to the end of the hospital hall and take a look at the handsome, young man that had his fingers cut off. Cotton and Betty would meet later at the Orangeburg County Fair as their brothers and sisters set them up as the third couple in the three brothers dating three sisters set up. A triple date that eventually ended up with three eternally, loving married couples in the early 1950s.
It was shortly after his finger accident that he went into the upholstery business with his brother, Lavern. He used some of his compensation award as seed money to get the things that they needed to begin the business. Lavern handled the furniture side of the business and he handled the automobile side. In time he was known throughout the Orangeburg and Calhoun County area as one of the best auto upholsterors. He was especially known for revitalizing and making the interiors of early model automobiles come back to life.
He had a special place in his heart for his four daughters that he lovingly referred to as his "living dolls". He was a very family oriented man and spent all of his free time with his children, grandchildren and family. He taught all his daughters how to change a car tire and how to change the oil in a car. He said he wanted his daughters to be able to help themselves and not have to depend on a man to do it for them. He wanted them to be able to take care of themselves. His adult hobbies were camping with family, deer hunting and fishing. He also liked working in his family's vegetable garden because he knew in that way he was providing for his family. He would tell his daughters that he may not have much to give them monetarily but he gave them a last name that was clean and he expected each of them to keep it clean during their lifetime to pass on to their kids.
He was baptized at an early age at Willow Swamp Baptist Church, Norway, SC. He and Betty started attending First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg in the early 1950s. In the early 1980s, they began attending church at First Baptist of Orangeburg. He was a children's Sunday School teacher from the 1970's until the early 1990s. He and Betty were both teetotalers. Cotton smoked until the early 1970s when he quit and never smoked again. He would give the cigarette boxes to his youngest children to play with and keep stuff in.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in the late 1980s. He had an operation to remove the cancer. The cancer came back on his liver in early 1990 (stage IV) which was inoperable. The cancer had metastasized the outside of his liver. He started chemotherapy right away. He was certain he was going to beat cancer and was an inspiration to his entire family the way he fought to stay on this earth with them. Heaven gained a very special angel on the morning of January 28, 1992.
Obit from The Times and Democrat; Orangeburg, SC
January 29, 1992
Laurie T. (Cotton) Davis, age 63, of 910 Green Street, NE, Orangeburg, died Tuesday, January 28, 1992 at The Regional Medical Center. Mr. Davis was born January 1, 1929, in Norway, a son of the late Luther Edgar Davis and Maggie Rowell Davis. He was a member of First Baptist Church and taught first grade Sunday School. He was retired from the upholstery business.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Betty Robinson Davis of Orangeburg; four daughters, Mrs. Gracie Sanford, Mrs. Donna Moorer and Mrs. Laurie Rickenbaker, all of Orangeburg and Mrs. Beth Thomas of Columbia; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Boltin and Mrs. Marian Kennemore, both of Orangeburg; three brothers, Cecil Davis of Liberal, Kansas and Welborne and L. L. Davis, both of Orangeburg; and seven grandchildren. The funeral service for Mr. Davis was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Orangeburg with the Reverend Jack Anderson officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Wayne Davis, Webbie Davis, Jay Robinson, Greg Ackerman, Ray Williams and Theron Inabinet.
COD: Colon Cancer w/metastasis to the liver
In the late 1940s, he worked for a time at The Times and Democrat in Orangeburg. He was a tall, lanky fellow so when the newspaper printing press would get jammed he would slip underneath in the small space and fix the jam. During one of these episodes the press was accidently turned back on and he lost three of his fingers on his right hand. He was awarded several thousand dollars compensation for the loss of his fingers. Little did he know that during his hospital stay, his future wife Betty saw him for the first time as she was in the hospital visiting her mother who was ill. Her mother told her to walk to the end of the hospital hall and take a look at the handsome, young man that had his fingers cut off. Cotton and Betty would meet later at the Orangeburg County Fair as their brothers and sisters set them up as the third couple in the three brothers dating three sisters set up. A triple date that eventually ended up with three eternally, loving married couples in the early 1950s.
It was shortly after his finger accident that he went into the upholstery business with his brother, Lavern. He used some of his compensation award as seed money to get the things that they needed to begin the business. Lavern handled the furniture side of the business and he handled the automobile side. In time he was known throughout the Orangeburg and Calhoun County area as one of the best auto upholsterors. He was especially known for revitalizing and making the interiors of early model automobiles come back to life.
He had a special place in his heart for his four daughters that he lovingly referred to as his "living dolls". He was a very family oriented man and spent all of his free time with his children, grandchildren and family. He taught all his daughters how to change a car tire and how to change the oil in a car. He said he wanted his daughters to be able to help themselves and not have to depend on a man to do it for them. He wanted them to be able to take care of themselves. His adult hobbies were camping with family, deer hunting and fishing. He also liked working in his family's vegetable garden because he knew in that way he was providing for his family. He would tell his daughters that he may not have much to give them monetarily but he gave them a last name that was clean and he expected each of them to keep it clean during their lifetime to pass on to their kids.
He was baptized at an early age at Willow Swamp Baptist Church, Norway, SC. He and Betty started attending First Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg in the early 1950s. In the early 1980s, they began attending church at First Baptist of Orangeburg. He was a children's Sunday School teacher from the 1970's until the early 1990s. He and Betty were both teetotalers. Cotton smoked until the early 1970s when he quit and never smoked again. He would give the cigarette boxes to his youngest children to play with and keep stuff in.
He was diagnosed with colon cancer in the late 1980s. He had an operation to remove the cancer. The cancer came back on his liver in early 1990 (stage IV) which was inoperable. The cancer had metastasized the outside of his liver. He started chemotherapy right away. He was certain he was going to beat cancer and was an inspiration to his entire family the way he fought to stay on this earth with them. Heaven gained a very special angel on the morning of January 28, 1992.
Obit from The Times and Democrat; Orangeburg, SC
January 29, 1992
Laurie T. (Cotton) Davis, age 63, of 910 Green Street, NE, Orangeburg, died Tuesday, January 28, 1992 at The Regional Medical Center. Mr. Davis was born January 1, 1929, in Norway, a son of the late Luther Edgar Davis and Maggie Rowell Davis. He was a member of First Baptist Church and taught first grade Sunday School. He was retired from the upholstery business.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Betty Robinson Davis of Orangeburg; four daughters, Mrs. Gracie Sanford, Mrs. Donna Moorer and Mrs. Laurie Rickenbaker, all of Orangeburg and Mrs. Beth Thomas of Columbia; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Boltin and Mrs. Marian Kennemore, both of Orangeburg; three brothers, Cecil Davis of Liberal, Kansas and Welborne and L. L. Davis, both of Orangeburg; and seven grandchildren. The funeral service for Mr. Davis was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Orangeburg with the Reverend Jack Anderson officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Wayne Davis, Webbie Davis, Jay Robinson, Greg Ackerman, Ray Williams and Theron Inabinet.
COD: Colon Cancer w/metastasis to the liver
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