Francess I. Davies (Tom-Sahr)

“A life beautifully and faithfully lived.”

 

Francess Imelda Davies passed away at home in Temple Hills, MD on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Francess was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in West Africa on January 5, 1939 to Christian Wilson and Elizabeth Davies. She was the third of four sisters. She attended Kenema Teachers’ College in the mid-1960s, and immigrated to the United States in 1965 to pursue a career in education and child development.

 

Francess (as she liked to say, “Francess like princess”) started her career in the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation in the early 1970s, retiring in 2002 after nearly 30 years of dedicated service and support to DC children, parents and families. She earned an associate’s degree in Child Development and Nursery School Education from the University of the District of Columbia in 2007.

 

A woman of deep faith, Francess and her family joined St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Washington, DC in 1970. She became a mainstay in the church community, dedicating her life to being His good and faithful servant through her active participation in the gospel choir, parish council, Sodality, Eucharistic Minister, a member of the East of the River Committee, and the parish 65th Anniversary Committee. She also was instrumental in bringing the SHARE and the Wonderful Smiles for Children programs to the church.

 

Francess’ spiritual journey continued when she joined the Neocatechumenal Way which focuses on the three pillars of Christian life: the Word of God, liturgy, and community. Through the smaller Neo community she deepened her faith, harnessed the power of prayer, strengthened her relationship with her Lord, and broadened her evangelism to bring others into the Way.

 

She was just as much a fixture in the church kitchen as she was in the church pews. She was gifted with her hands and shared her talents through her generous spirit, often cooking, baking and sewing for church functions, family, and friends…or anyone who asked. This personal ministry of hers brought smiles and joy to many she met. Francess also loved to organize bus trips for parishioners and friends to casinos and Sights & Sounds.

 

Outside of her faith and her family, her greatest passion was helping children grow up safe, smart, healthy, happy, and above all else…polite! She was devoted to her children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces. But she also was mom, grandmother, aunt, and sister to countless children and their parents/caregivers in rec centers, schools, and communities across the city…especially in her church community at St. Thomas More. She turned her passion into entrepreneurship by opening her own home-based daycare center which she operated until she was physically unable to continue.

 

Francess’ legacy lives on through her four children: Elizabeth, Augustine, Edward, and Francess; eleven grandchildren: Imelda, Shakiera, Desmond, Nana, Nelson, Vanessa, Ethan, Evelyn, Madison, Eliana and Kai; two great-grandchildren: Melrose and Taj; her sisters Kathleen Davies Hanson and Adeline Essien; beloved nephew Ekom Essien; stepson Samuel Sahr; her goddaughter Yema Sankoh; her godsisters Agnes Kamara, Maria Valcarcel, Khadi Otis-Coker, Marie Koroma; and countless other family members, loved ones, and friends. She was preceded in death by her son Andrew Desmond, sister Blanche Adewumi, cousins Patrick Ojong and Aaron Otis-Coker, godbrother Fred Bockry, and aunt Kathleen Kamara.

 

Her family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you and special acknowledgement to the caregivers – Lena, Amina, Janell and Cheyene – who provided comfort and care to mom for several years until she transitioned.