Hosea Lee Davis

Hosea Lee Davis was born July 30, 1927. He was the second of seven children born to the union of McKinley and Josephine Davis. Hosea was always proud of the fact that he was the only one of the seven children born in Canton, Mississippi the family's ancestral home versus Freeport, Illinois where all the other six were born and the place that became the legacy home to the Davis family. He attended Freeport schools and accepted Christ at an early age and attended St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, the place of worship for the Davis family. He remained a committed Christian serving the Lord throughout his lifetime and late in life became a member of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ. Hosea was known to most constituents of the city of Freeport as an example citizen that all should model. Being raised in the Third Ward, he was a cherished friend to a countless number of people in the neighborhood throughout his entire life. As a humanitarian, "Hose" helped anyone who happened along his path no matter the request. He would walk to restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, downtown, or wherever the need would take him - and he always came to the aid of the party with a heartwarming smile. As a person of high integrity, Hosea was truthful and knew how to deliver hard news with a soft blow. He covered the landscape of the Freeport footprint leaving love, life, and laughter every step of the way. Hosea had a subtle humor that always had an underlying nugget of serious wisdom and truth. As an upstanding wage-earning citizen; like his father, mother, and siblings, Hosea was a hard worker that made an honest living. He started his career in the early 1940's working for Alex Angelo's at Angelo's Greek Restaurant. He also worked as a janitor for Freeport AMVETS. Hosea is most remembered as a long-term employee at Union Dairy Farms. He often recalled carrying the 100-pound bags of sugar from the train depot to the creamery. He often worked in subzero conditions in the freezer area but never complained or made excuses. He was a friendly and recognizable face there for many years. The Union Dairy recently honored Hosea as one of their historian employees, advocates, and volunteers. A great loss for us will be the warm smile and jovial spirit owned by our brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. His humility and character of honor will be sorely missed. His role model of chivalry is a lost art that he reminded us all, is indeed still alive and well. The world will be hard pressed to replicate the character "in whom the Spirit of the Lord is" as it was in Mr. Hosea Lee Davis. He will indeed be sorely missed as a staple in the family and community. On Saturday evening June 20, 2015 around 6:30pm in accordance with God's grace and mercy; Hosea Lee Davis entered triumphantly from life to life and into heavenly rest. For the past ten years Hosea had been a resident of the Stephenson County Nursing Home, which is where he journeyed from this life to the next. He was preceded in death by his father; McKinley Davis, mother; Josephine Davis, sister; Sister Jo Mary Davis, brother McKinley "Deacon" Davis; and sister Melva Lyn Davis. He leaves to cherish his memory two sisters Margaret Broom of Washington D.C.; Erma Cole of Milwaukee, WI; one brother Joseph Davis of Rockford, IL and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015 until time of service at the church.