The Story of LESLIE DAVIS

Leslie Davis was born November 1885. He married Susanna Bush, who was also from Carlton. Four children were born to that union: Mittie, Luetta, Timothy, and Gloria. Mittie and Tim were born in Carlton and Luetta and Gloria were born in Mobile.

Leslie moved his family to Mobile when his oldest child was approaching school age. He believed that educational opportunities were better in Mobile. They settled in the Crichton community on Josephine Street. His older brother Ira lived on the same street.

His first job in Mobile was a cook on a pull boat, what we commonly know today as a tugboat. He later went to work as a watchman at Mobile Paper Mill, which was located less than a mile from his house.

An industrious man, he also maintained a garden, kept pigs and chickens. Leslie had a stroke in 1926 but he did not stop his enjoyment of his garden. His daughter remembers him waiting until the hottest part of the day to work. One day she, her brother, and sister decided to pretend the brother had fallen out due to the heat. One sister pretended to be upset but Leslie knew they were trying to get out of work. He showed no sympathy and back to work they went. They later realized that he chose that time of day because mornings were so cold for him. By midday, he could be comfortable.

He was quiet and loved attending church. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church. While he enjoyed going to church, when the “Amen” was pronounced he was ready to go home. His wife Susanna was talkative unlike himself. When his children were slow to respond to his instructions, he reminded them of the biblical admonition “Children, obey your parents”.

Leslie lived nine years after his stroke. He went to sleep on a Monday and died the following Friday, September 13, 1935.

Sources:
1900 Census
Mittie Davis Knight, Daughter
Gloria Davis Wilks, Daughter
Death Certificate