Biography: Mary Rebecca Davis, 58,  passed away peacefully at home in Conway, Arkansas on  May 30, 2020.  Although it was cholangiocarcinoma that took her life, she did not lose the battle. She faced her cancer with bravery, grace, and faith. Always full of hope that something positive would come from her journey, she showed peace to those whom she loved and to all those who loved her.  She was kind, loving, a hard worker, dedicated to family and friends, loyal, courageous, gracious, stubborn, thoughtful, fun, and so much more as she has touched so many lives. She will be greatly missed on earth, but her deep faith has assured her loved ones that they will be together again.

Rebecca was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on December 30, 1961, daughter of Milford Herschel Davis, Jr. and Mary Padgett Crockett Davis. She grew up in Little Rock, affectionately known as “Becky,” graduating from Central High School in 1980.  During her childhood she was frequently with friends from her Hillcrest neighborhood, active in First United Methodist Church, often at the pool or on the tennis courts with friends, or spending time with family, especially her sister, Margaret, and brother, Milford.                     

Rebecca attended Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) in Memphis, Tennessee, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business in 1984.  She was active in the Delta Delta Delta sorority, served as Panhellenic vice president, student government treasurer, student representative to the Board of Trustees, and active with many other school organizations.  She dearly loved attending Rhodes College, as have other members of her family, including her two sons, Samuel & Thomas.

After graduation, Rebecca moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to start her career with Prudential/PruCare, working in several different roles from marketing to provider relations.  It was in Nashville where she met and married Tim Cloyd, who was her husband from 1992 until 2009.   They moved to Arkansas in 1994, living first in Little Rock and later in Conway.

After taking years off to raise a family, Rebecca re-entered the work force again with the United Methodist Church, first in the Central district office, and then the Arkansas Conference office. She continued to work until her last hospitalization, grateful for the positive work environment and support she received from her coworkers.

Rebecca was involved in so many ways that supported her sons, her greatest joys in her life.  Serving as P.T.O. president, Sunday School teacher, and volunteer for many projects, she also loved cheering her boys on as they played football, whether Pee Wee, High School, or college teams. She was an active member of P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization committed to helping women pursue higher education, where she developed many strong friendships with her chapter sisters.  Supportive in her family’s activities, she was also the gracious hostess to countless Hendrix College events while her husband Tim served as college president.

Rebecca loved to travel and was always open to new adventures.  Her favorite trips included taking her boys to NYC to bring in the new year in Times Square, and to California to visit Sea World, Legoland, Disneyland, and CA Adventure Park all in one trip.  She also enjoyed visiting her sister and brother-in-law when they lived in Germany, procuring a piece of the Berlin Wall, and to Sedona, AZ where she said her closeted free spirit hippieness felt at home.  She traveled all over North America and Europe.  Rebecca made it to 35 states and hoped to make it to all 50.

She had a love for the mountains and relaxing often at her sister’s house in western North Carolina.  She also had a special love for the ocean, where she would spend time each summer since childhood with extended family at Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.  It was there where she felt most at peace, surrounded by family, rocking on the porch, or sitting on the beach taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean.

Rebecca loved movies and TV shows of any type, whether it was going to see movies with friends, late nights watching Netflix shows with her boys, or digressing into reality TV shows with her nieces.

Rebecca’s kind and loving nature extended to animals as well as people. She took great joy in the pets that were a part of her family: rescue dogs Cyrus and Hank, guinea pigs Millie, Miley, and Lily, and even Crab Crab, the hermit crab that wouldn’t die.
Rebecca had a deep faith, and her life reflected that. A lifelong Methodist, she grew up at Little Rock First United Methodist Church where she was active in the children’s and youth ministry.  She was a member of West End United Methodist Church in Nashville where she participated in mission trips to Jamaica and Honduras and chaired the Young Adult ministry, growing it into a large and active group focused on spiritual development, service, and mission. After moving to Conway, she joined Conway First United Methodist Church where she co-chaired a Companions in Christ group, helped establish DivorceCare, and made deep spiritual friendships with her Soul Sisters group.

Rebecca is survived by her sons, Samuel Davis Cloyd and Cullen Thomas Cloyd of Conway, AR; mother, Mary Crockett Davis of Little Rock, AR; sister, Rev. Margaret Davis Freeman and husband, Dr. James R. Freeman, Jr. of Franklin, NC; brother, Milford Herschel Davis and wife, Mary Ellzey Davis of Tyler, TX; nieces, Laura Rebecca Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Freeman, and Chloe Elizabeth Hultman; nephews, Robert Preston Davis, Milford Harper Davis, Charles Henry Hultman, and Timothy Scott Hultman.  She is also survived by Dr. J. Timothy Cloyd of Springfield, MO, other beloved relatives, and countless friends. Her family is grateful for all the outpourings of love and care, and for the excellent care provided by all her doctors, nurses, and caregivers. A special thank you to Hospice Home Care and Visiting Angels for their services. Because she was so loving, so many loved her and will continue to be blessed by her example, her love, and her legacy.

Rebecca will be laid to rest next to several generations of the Davis family at Oakland Cemetery in Little Rock. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

A service to celebrate Rebecca's life will take place at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 31, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Conway, Arkansas.  Memorials may be given to Rhodes College for scholarships, The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation for research, or an animal shelter of choice.