Barbara N. Davis

May 27, 1924 - February 5, 2022

Barbara Nell Davis, Edwards, 97, of Columbia, IL, died February 5, 2022, St. Louis, MO, surrounded by family. She was born May 27, 1924, in Centralia, IL. She is survived by her children Robert (Debra) Davis Sr., Debbie (John) Schneider, Johnny (Tammy) Davis, Jimmy (Cheryl) Davis, Suzy (Tom) Heavner, Sharon Davis, Dianna (Clifford) Schwartz; grandchildren Bobby Davis, Christina (Jeff) Riebeling, Eric (Sam Rutledge) Davis, Patrick (Corey) Davis, Heather (Ryan) Borlesch, Thomas Heavner, Haley (Carter Pate) Heavner, Kristi Matecki, AJ Mardirosian; great grandchildren Dominic Davis, Kaia Davis, Gage Davis, Porter Riebeling, Londyn Riebeling, Jolie Davis, Elliott Davis, Oaklynne Borlesch, Aaron Mardirosian, Sadie Matecki, Owen Matecki. Mrs. Davis was the first born to John and Lucy Edwards in Centralia, IL. Mrs. Davis worked for many years as a bookkeeper and also for 13 years on the Missouri Pacific railroad which is where she met her husband, Robert Phillips Davis. They were married on January 14, 1950. She really could do anything she put her mind to! Mr. and Mrs. Davis went on to have 7 children whom they raised in Columbia, IL. The Davis home is where all the neighborhood children gathered to play and knew Mrs. Davis would be out soon with Kool-Aid and cookies. Mr. and Mrs. Davis put a lot of effort in building a Family Lakehouse on Lake Egypt. This is where their family would all come together to spend weekends full of BBQs, laughter, joking and a few card games to wind down the night. She was the true Matriarch of the family. She raised not only her 7 children but was always there to lend a hand to help raise her grandchildren and great grandchildren; whom admirably call her GiGi. Her world revolved around her Kids, Grandkids and Great Grandkids; including her dog and best friend, Maggie Mae, who was always by her side. She will be missed tremendously. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert P. Davis, Sr. (dec. January 21, 1983), grandchild, Nicholas Davis, sisters, Dorothy J. Metz, and Edna Mae Diehl, along with a brother, John F. Edwards, Jr. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 15, 2022, 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm, at Leesman Funeral Home, Columbia, IL. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesay, February 16, at 10:00 am, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 411 Palmer Road, Columbia, IL, with Fr. Nicholas Flemming, officiating. Interment will follow in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: American Heart Association, 460 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63141, or, American Cancer Society, #5 Schiber Ct., Maryville, IL, 62062 . For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com. Leesman Funeral Home, Columbia, IL, handled arrangements.