Muriel Elizabeth (Leonard) Davis, age 90, went to be with the Lord Jesus her Savior at her home in Minneola, FL on November 19, 2021. She was born in Blue Ridge, VA on August 4, 1931, the eldest daughter of Anthony and Bertha (White) Leonard.
She grew up working on the family farm while attending Colonial Elementary. She graduated from Colonial High School before she attended Bryan University in Dayton, TN. After meeting her future husband, she transferred to Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
Muriel married Chuck Davis on September 12, 1958, in Blue Ridge. This marriage was blessed by four children.
After Chuck finished seminary and was ordained, they pastored at Glade Creek Church in Blue Ridge. They joined Africa Inland Mission and they served with the mission for 48 years before retiring to the mission’s facilities in Florida.
As missionaries they attended French language school in Neuchatel, Switzerland and then moved to the Ituri Forest Station of Banjwadi, in the Republic of Congo. After three months as missionaries, Muriel and Chuck were held as political prisoners. Chuck was held in a prison and Muriel, pregnant, and with 2 children was held at a missionary station with several other families. After 111 days, they were rescued by Belgium Para Commandos and returned to the United States. Muriel, Chuck and 3 children returned to the Republic of Congo in 1966 where they served for another 10 years.
When the family of six returned to the United States, they made their home in Roanoke, VA. Muriel worked for Shenandoah Life Insurance and Musselwhite & Associates for over 30 years. After retirement, they moved to the Africa Inland Mission Retirement Center in Minneola, Florida.
Muriel is survived by her husband, Chuck; son, Steve Davis and his wife, Debbie, of Hummeltown, PA; three daughters, Beth Taylor and her husband, Dr. Bill, of Byrdstown, TN, Susan Falero of Chapin, SC and Judy Fitzgerald and her husband, Joel II, of Ness City, KS; 10 grandchildren; and 4 great grand-children; one brother, Robert Leonard, of Blue Ridge; two sisters, Carolyn Vandergrift and her husband, Richard, of Harrisburg, NC and Sandra Ennis and her husband, Harry, of St. Augustine, FL; two sisters-in-law, Shelby Leonard, Blue Ridge and Betty Yackels, Bradenton, FL; three brothers-in-law, Nelson Dudley, Roanoke, VA, George Tribbett, Blue Ridge, and Herbie Davis (Roberta), Middleboro, MA. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Fred Leonard; two sisters, Janie Dudley and Margaret Tribbett; one brother-in-law, Robert Yackels; and two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Leonard and Mary Guilfoyle (Jim).
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Rather than flowers memorial contributions may be given to Samaritans Purse.