Biography:


Beverly Hart Davis, age 95, of Little Rock, and formerly of Monticello, passed away on October 26, 2025. She was born on the family farm in Carrolton, Missouri, on September 17, 1930, to Rev. Cecil O. and Evelyn Metz Hart.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Bonnie Lee Hart and Dessie Lou Walton, brother O. Nelson Hart, and daughter-in-law Mimi Mitchell Davis.

She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Jerry T. Davis; her children, T. Martin Davis (Bev Foster), Little Rock, Jonathan Davis (Laura Wagnon), Monticello, Bryan Davis (Susan), Little Rock, and Brett Davis (Sally Wood), Owensboro, Kentucky; her grandchildren, Jeremy Davis (Tonya), Elizabeth Bradley (Brett), Foster Davis (Laura), Frederick Davis (Sarah Beth), Charles Davis (Sophie), Collins Greene (Kyle), Tess Davis, Stockley Davis, Maggie Hendley (Russ), and Mary Maude Davis; step-grand-children Andrew Schoessel (Tenderly Mondragon) and Austin Schoessel (Vanessa); and her great-grandchildren, Emory, Kyra, Olivia, Jake, Troy, Lakin, Jones, Davis, Bryce, Blake, Carolina, Thomas, Aden, Everett, George, Jake, Ladd, Florence, Bertie, Audrey, Scotty, Sutton, Samson, and Hays Clark Hendley who is expected in the spring. She is also survived by her brother Glen Hart (Marilyn, deceased) and family, Lake Oswego, Oregon, and sister Roseann Malter (Tom) and family, Malta Bend, Missouri.

Growing up during the Great Depression and its aftermath, Beverly learned the value of hard work as her family faced the challenges of making a living. After graduating from Carrolton, Mo. high school, she worked in a clothing store to help support the family and from which she acquired a smart sense of dress. Through a cousin, she met her husband Jerry when he returned to Missouri after service in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. In 1954, upon Jerry's graduation from the University of Missouri School of Forestry, they moved south to the forests of Drew County where they established their family in the Selma community, moving a few years later to Monticello.

Assuming the job of rearing their four sons, all of whom arrived within three years, Beverly was a full-time mom and quickly took to her role as homemaker and volunteer in support of their children's many educational and extracurricular activities at school, church, and in the community. She served as home room assistant, Cub Scout den leader, Sunday school teacher, and drove the kids many miles in their pursuit of swimming, baseball, and football team competitions.

Beverly also made time to serve her local Junior Auxiliary as member and president, and later as regional officer and national treasurer. She served on the administrative board of Monticello First United Church and the board of the Annswood Retirement Center. When her children started college, she returned to the workforce as an administrative assistant at Burlington Carpet Mills, later as an assistant to Monticello Mayor Harold West, and eventually used her experience when she joined the Arkansas Governor's Office of Volunteer Services during the Clinton and White administrations before her retirement. In 1987, she was honored as "Woman of the Year" for Drew County.

Beverly and Jerry eventually moved full-time to Little Rock to enjoy their growing bunch of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but they have returned often to Monticello for their friends, family, and to the beautiful timberlands surrounding Selma for relaxation and hunting.

A memorial service for Beverly will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025, with visitation taking place before from 9 to 10 a.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 West Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, with final interment of ashes at the Selma Cemetery, Drew County, just a stone's throw from their family's first home in Arkansas. Memorials may be made to the Selma AR Cemetery, c/o Phillis Mosley, 106 Grant #637, Sheridan, AR 72150, or to the Selma Methodist Church, SMC Preservation Society, c/o Jimmy Potter, 367 Hwy. 293, Tillar, AR 71670. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com