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Passing of a League Leader

Gloria Pickar | Published on 3/31/2020
   
   
   

Dear League Members,
About 2:00 AM this morning, our belovedCarol Davispassed away, succumbing to cancer. Carol was our League's popular and highly respected Co-President during 2016-2018, serving with Sara Isaac the first year and then Leesa Bainbridge. Under her leadership, we accomplished many milestones during that time including:
  • Starting our support for civil citations for first-time juvenile offenders to avoid arrest and conviction
  • Collecting 1.1 million signed petition signatures along with other Leagues throughout Florida to win an amendment for restoration of voting rights for felons who complete their sentence
  • Expanding solar co-ops and forming the first county-wide residential co-op in August 2016
  • Pledging with the City of Orlando in August 2017 to use 100% renewable energy by 2050
  • Championing online voter registration with RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov in October 2017
  • Registering 2,400 people to vote in one year
Carol will always be remembered and appreciated most for her leadership and dedication for empowering voters, serving as Chair of Voter Services for many years. She fought relentlessly for voting rights and against voter suppression. She developed our local contribution to the lauded first national voter guide, Vote411. In January last year, Carol delivered a memorable tribute to black suffragists as part of our two-year series of events to commemorate the Women's Suffrage Centennial and joined other League Presidents that May to plant a live-oak tree, "The Voter," to recognize the 80th birthday of our League. Over her many years with the League and along with her husband and soulmate Charles, you could find her at almost all events dealing with voting, leading and staffing our Adopt-A-Precinct until her illness stopped her. At the recent Presidential Primary, Charles worked in her honor as she fought her disease.
Beyond our League, Carol was an elementary school teacher with the Department of Defense Schools in the US and Germany and then retired after 25 years as an editor with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. She served as President of Delta Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and was active in the NAACP. As an advocate for children and quality education, she also served on the Boards of Valencia Community College and Devereux Florida.
Carol entered hospice care a few days ago while she remained in ICU at Orlando Health Dr. Phillips Hospital. Charles shared that she was in good spirits and fully awake two days ago. He told the outstanding ICU nurses who cared for her about their 51-year marriage and lovingly referred to her as the "boss." She promptly stuck her tongue out at him dismissing that idea out of hand to a round of laughter. That's our Carol--fun and full of life. We will miss her gentle caring, calm presence, big smile, patient persistence, and servant leadership. Thank you Carol for being such a big part of our hearts and your League. We will miss you!
Lovingly submitted by Dr. Gloria Pickar, Co-President
Cards and notes for the family can be sent to:
Charles Davis
8642 Vista Point Cove
Orlando, FL 32836
Shown top: Carol hosting a voter registration table and also highlighted on the cover of Orlando Magazine as a community volunteer stand-out.
Show above: Marching in 2011 for voters' rights
Shown below left: Carol and her husband of 51 years and fellow League member,Charles Davis
Shown below right: Outgoing Co-PresidentSandra Powersand Carol embrace as she steps in as a new Co-President of the LWVOC.
Shown bottom: Co-Presidents together,Leesa Bainbridge, Sara Isaac, Carol Davis
Seeing Sandra and Carol together, two giants of League leadership, and both lost to us within months, is a sobering reminder of how precious our time is together. Their guidance, patriotism, and dedication to the LWVOC is an example to us all.