Individual Details

Harriett's delayed birth certificate gives her birth as 4 Aug 1911, Edgecombe Co, Parents were G. A. and Harriett H. Holderness.

29 Sep 1932 - the SS Mauretania arrived in New York City. She sailed from Southampton England by way of Cherbourg (France) on September 24th. Passengers included Anna and Harriet Holderness. Both were born in Tarboro, NC - Anna, age 23, on July 30th, 1909 and Harriet, age 21, on August 4th, 1911. Their US address was "Tarboro, NC".

2 Mar 1934 The SS M.V. Georgic sailed from New York City on Feb 14, 1924, arriving back in New York from a West Indies Cruise on March 2nd. Passengers included Anna, age 24, and Harriett, age 22. Their home address was now 900 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA.

11 Feb 1936 The SS Columbus sailed from New York and returned to New York on 27 Mar 1936. Harriet Holdernes, age 24, b. 4 Aug 1911 in Tarboro, NC; Anna, age 25, b. 30 Jul 1909, Tarboro. Their U.S. address was Tarboro.

Married Lee Ferguson Davis of Richmond VA. Three Children.

1950 Census. Richmond City, VA, Hh 42
12 Wilton Rd
Lee F. Davis, 43, b. NC, Vice President, Virginia Transit Co
Harriet, wife, 38, b. NC
Lee J., son, 10, b. VA
Harriet H., dau, 8, b. VA
Allan H., son, 6, b. VA
Grace Johnson, Maid, Negro, 22, b. NC


DAVIS Harriet Howard Holderness Davis died on October 11, 2006 of old age. Known throughout her life as "Pat," she was born in 1911 in Tarboro, N.C., a tobacco town in the eastern part of that state. She was the lap baby and longest surviving of the seven children of George Allan and Harriet Howard Holderness. As a girl, she moved to Richmond with her parents when her father was called to head the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company. They maintained a residence at the Chesterfield on Franklin Street, Richmond's first major apartment building, living in the city during the week and commuting back to North Carolina on weekends. She was graduated from the Collegiate School here and Salem College in Winston-Salem.
In 1937, she was married to Lee Ferguson Davis, a Richmond businessman and civic leader. He died in 1982. Mrs. Davis was a long-time member, indeed pillar, of the First Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Woman's Club, the Tuckahoe Woman's Club, and the Country Club of Virginia. She was an active volunteer and fund raiser for more than the requisite number of Richmond institutions and charities, and sat on the boards of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education at Union Theological Seminary, Grace Place Adult Care Center, and the Virginia Home. An accomplished athlete, Mrs. Davis was a lifelong golfer, and, in the early '60s, was runner-up for the City Championship.
She discovered tennis later in life, and though she never excelled in the sport, it became a passion. Aided by a legendary lob and sturdy, if not particularly shapely legs, she managed to pick up a good deal of silver plate in her career on the courts - mainly, she said, because so few wanted to admit that they were in the "over-55" category. She played both sports into her 90th year. She had a good eye for American antiques; enjoyed working in her yard; believed in keeping her brass and silver polished - though counting on the sweat and good will of others for that; made and widely distributed large amounts of most excellent peanut brittle; favored lump crab meat and ice-cream - separately, of course; played a nice game of cards; was a glorious dancer; tended to frown on applause in church; and had an abiding sympathy for Mrs. Walter (India) Bridge of Kansas City, Mo.
Lighthearted but not lightheaded, she loved a good story and told a great one. And there was always that tennis thing. Endearing and entertaining? Certainly. Sensible? For the most part. Grounded? Totally. Considerate, kind, and generous? Always. Fully appreciative of the many blessings life bestowed on her, she was also strong when faced with tragedy. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her eldest son, Lee Ferguson Davis Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Boothe Davis, of this city. She is survived by the children of that union and their spouses, Lloyd Davis Spruill and Joseph Elna Spruill III, of Richmond; Evan Raglan Davis and Mary Northcott Boodell, also of the city; and Walker Keith Davis and Krista McArthur Davis of Charlottesville; and by their seven children. By her daughter, Patsy Davis and husband, Dr. Benson Reid Wilcox, of Chapel Hill, and her children, Harriet Holderness Kendall of Boseman, Mont., and Julia Howard Klein of Santa Fe, N.M. By her son, Allan Holderness Davis of Quinque, Va. and, locally, by niece, Nancy Holderness Reams and husband, Thomas Sanders Reams. A memorial service and reception following will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 2602 Cary Street Rd. at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 13. The King James Version of the Bible will be used. Burial at Hollywood will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, 3415 Floyd Ave., Richmond 23221; Shepherd's Center of Richmond, 4900 Augusta Ave., Ste. 102, Richmond 23230; or a charity of the donor's own choosing.
Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch from 10/12/2006 - 10/13/2006.

Birth: 1911 Death: Oct. 11, 2006
"Pat," she was born in Tarboro, N.C. She longest surviving of the seven children of George Allan and Harriet Howard Holderness. As a girl, she moved to Richmond with her parents when her father was called to head the Virginia-Carolina Chemical Company.
She was graduated from the Collegiate School here and Salem College in Winston-Salem. In 1937, she was married to Lee Ferguson Davis, a Richmond businessman and civic leader. Mrs. Davis was a long-time member, indeed pillar, of the First Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Woman's Club, the Tuckahoe Woman's Club, and the Country Club of Virginia, and sat on the boards of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education at Union Theological Seminary, Grace Place Adult Care Center, and the Virginia Home.She was predeceased by her eldest son, Lee Ferguson Davis Jr. Burial:
Hollywood Cemetery
Richmond
Richmond city
Virginia, USA
Record added: Oct 13 2006
By: Paula Lucy Delosh

Birth	4 Aug 1911
Marriage	20 Nov 1937	Edgecombe County, North Carolina - Lee Ferguson Davis
Death	11 Oct 2006	Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia

Spouse	Lee Ferguson Davis (1907 - 1982)
Child	Lee Ferguson Davis Jr. (1939 - 1983)
Child	Living
Child	Allan Holderness Davis (1944 - 2012)

Father	George Allan Holderness (1867 - 1947)
Mother	Harriet Howard (1871 - 1954)
Sibling	Adm. George Allan Holderness Jr. (1900 - 1987)
Sibling	Howard "Chick" Holderness (1902 - 1992)
Sibling	William Henry Holderness (1904 - 1965)
Sibling	Thomas Thurston "Turk" Holderness (1906 - 1988)
Sibling	Haywood Dail Holderness (1909 - 1989)
Sibling	Anna Stamps Holderness (1909 - 1987)