Funeral services for Oma Ellison Steele Davis, 64, of Avon, a retired elementary physical education teacher will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Riverside High School, Avon, MS. She passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Burial will be in County Line Cemetery, Glen Allan, MS.
She was born in Greenwood on February 10, 1951, the daughter of Claude Gibson Steele, Jr., and Ray Conerly Steele. She graduated from Greenwood High School in 1969 and from Delta State University in 1973. She also received a Master’s of Science in Education from Delta State University. She taught elementary physical education at Riverside Elementary for thirty-four years. She also taught Elementary Physical Education for Teachers (adjunct) for Delta State University for two years. She drove a school bus for Western Line School District for thirty years. She served as a Physical Education Consultant for West Jasper County Schools for two years. She served on the committee of physical educators to re-write the Physical Education Framework for the Mississippi Department of Education. Oma obtained a Physical Best Health-Fitness Certification in 2001, was an instructor of the Advance Driving Academy for the ADA, and conducted Staff Development for the Sunflower School District Staff on Elementary Students, Fitness, Exercise, and Games. She was also involved in the Girl Scouts organization for many years.
Professional affiliations include the Mississippi Professional Educators where she served as the Building Representative for twenty-two years. She served ten years on the board of the MS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and was a member of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. She was the MAHPERD Elementary Education Teacher of the Year for 1998, 2000, and 2001. She was awarded the Best of the West for Riverside Elementary School in 1991 and 1993.
After retiring, she was the Assistant Director for the Summer Dance Camp in Greenwood for several summers. She was a member of the Delta Rockers (senior ladies dance team) for approximately five years. She began playing tennis and was a former member of Cypress Hills Tennis Club where she served as a former board member and a member of the Greenville Yacht Club. She had become an avid gardener in her retirement years and involved in the Special Olympics of Washington County.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Waddell Davis of Avon and four sons, Scott Davis (Chevy), Steele Davis, Clayton Davis (Kelli) and C. G. Davis; one granddaughter, Mary Ellison “Ellie” Davis; two brothers, Gibb Steele and Charlie Steele of Greenville, and one sister, Katherine Steele of Olive Branch, MS.
Oma had a one of a kind personality and was full of life. She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends. Even though she had only four sons and one grandchild, she claimed many as her own. Her giving and generous spirit was felt by everyone who ever knew her.
The family will receive friends Friday, April 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Avon United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Avon United Methodist Church (P.O. Box 127, Avon, MS 38723), Batson’s Children’s Hospital Hadyen Casavechia Pallative Care Fund (2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105), or ARRF-Animal Relief and Rescue Fellowship (P.O. Box 66, Leland, MS 38756).