With heavy and sorrowful hearts, we, The Staff and Management of R. Swinson Funeral Services, join the Davis family in announcing the transition of 68-year-old Ms. Annie B. Davis of Kinston, NC, who transitioned on Saturday, April 18th 2026, at Rex Hospital, Raleigh, NC.

The Beginning

Annie Blanche Davis was born on October 12, 1957, to Clifton and Perline Coples Davis, Sr., Annie was joined by twelve other siblings, five girls and eight boys, but Annie was the baby girl. She was affectionately called Annie, Annie Blanche, Blanche, Boogie, Sis, Aunt Annie, Cuz, and Sister Annie.

Education

Annie attended Frink Elementary School and graduated from North Lenoir High School in LaGrange, NC, in 1975. Annie was motivated to continue to excel in furthering her education. She attended Lenoir Community College, Kinston, NC, earning a Social Degree. She also attended East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, earning a Bachelor of Social Work in 1994.

Being the youngest of thirteen, Annie saw firsthand many of her siblings venture to Washington, DC, to pursue a better quality of life after living on the farm in rural North Carolina, and she made the decision that she was going to do whatever was necessary to be the best that she could be. And she did!

Working Career

In pursuing her career, Annie started as a Development Technician-1 at Caswell Development Center, Kinston, NC, from June 11, 1981, to December 15, 1994. Beginning in November 1995 and continuing until May 2009, Annie worked as an Adult Education Instructor (GED) at Lenoir College, Kinston, NC. Annie began working as a Development Technician-1 at Caswell Development Center, Kinston, NC, from June 11, 1981, to December 15, 1994. After pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work in 1994, Annie began her career as a Social Worker Consultant at Pitt County Group Homes, Inc., from December 1999 until her passing.

Annie was very passionate about furthering her career. She decided to continue working and also to attend Fayetteville State University School for Social Work, Fayetteville, NC, to obtain her Master's Degree. She would travel back and forth between Kinston, NC, and Fayetteville, NC, and graduated with a Master of Social Work in 1994.

From December 1994 to August 2000, Annie worked as a Mental Retardation Social Worker II at Caswell Developmental Center, Kinston, NC, from November 1995 through May 2009. Annie also worked as an Adult Education Instructor (GED) at Lenoir Community College, Kinston, NC.

From August 2000 to March 2002, Annie worked as a Qualified Professional (QP) at Caswell Developmental Center, Kinston, NC. From August 2002 to October 2010, Annie worked as an Admission & Discharge Coordinator at Caswell Developmental Center, Kinston, NC.

Annie also worked as a Social Work Intern from September 2010 to April 2011, Greene County Department of Social Services, Snow Hill, NC. From September 2011 to December 2011, she worked as a Social Work Intern for the Lenoir County Department of Social Services, Kinston, NC.

From January 2012 through April 2012, Annie worked as a Social Work Intern at the Pitt County Department of Social Services, Greenville, NC. On August 24, 2017, Annie began working as a Family Support Specialist at Green Lamp Head Start, Kinston, NC, until the time of her passing.

Annie had a work ethic that exceeded many others, which was etched in her DNA, as her parents were hard workers and her siblings followed the same path. Annie was taught at an early age by her Mother to look after all her siblings. Annie saw firsthand the bond her Mother had with her siblings, and therefore, it was destined for her to continue in her footsteps.

Annie and her sister Thelma began living together in their first apartment at Falling Creek, and eventually purchased a home together. Annie, along with her sisters, would visit and call their brothers to make sure they were ok. The girls would meet each Sunday after church to fellowship. with each other, even though they may have seen each other many times during the week.

Christian Journey

Annie grew up in a home that lived and preached Jesus Christ; therefore, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and joined Holly Grove Free Will Baptist Church, LaGrange, North Carolina, along with her family.

Annie served on the Senior Choir and eventually became the Choir Director. She was on the Senior Usher Board and attended Sunday School, Bible Study, and Mid-Week Worship Service. Annie was also a Member of the Trustee Board.

Stern With A Heart of Gold

Annie was a no-nonsense person. She would let you know that she had enough education to stand up to anyone, yet she would give you the shirt off her back. Annie and her sisters were very protective of their brothers and vice versa. If any of them were sick, the girls would travel to check on them and make their weekly calls to see if everyone was well and whether they needed something. Annie was the facilitator. Her care and concern were not limited to her family, as she reached out to anyone who was in need.

Annie, being single, did not have any children of her own; however, she was the Mother to her blessed boy doggie, PC. She was a loving and generous aunt to her nieces and nephews. She also extended this generosity to young people whom she worked with, as she saw many of them had great potential to be anything they wanted to be, and she wanted to encourage them to go for their dreams.

Heavenly Bound, April 18, 2026

On this date, April 18, Annie was to celebrate her brother's 80th birthday, as well as her niece's. However, the family was devastated to hear the news that our dear sweet Annie had gone home to join her parents and other family members. A sad day for this family, but Heaven has welcomed a jewel!

Annie is preceded in death by her parents, Clifton and Perline Coples Davis, Sr., and her brothers, George Kelly Davis, Thurston Davis, Otto Davis, Franklin Earl Davis, and Charles Sander Davis.

She leaves to cherish her memory: sisters, Deloris Davis Cannon, Mae Davis Darden (JC), Geraldine Davis, and Thelma Davis Jones; brothers, Clifton Davis, Jr. (Margaret), Kenneth Davis (LaBarbara), and Larry (Connie) Davis. Annie also leaves to cherish her nieces, Pamela Davis and Diane Davis Byrd (Anthony), and nephew, Bratt Davis (DeMita), who grew up as her little sisters and brother; sisters-in-law, Arlena Davis and Mary Davis; a dear and special niece (daughter), LaShonda Jones; special and dear nieces, Lisa Davis Jordan (Tim) and Nicole Marie Davis; special and dear nephews, Tyrus Darden (Elaine) and Corey Davis (Tam; three goddaughters, Ebony Smith, Amber Sutton, and Kyesha Shepard; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends to cherish her memories. She was also blessed by the lifelong friendship of Eldress Alice Wilson and Mother Gloria Wooten; bonus Mother at Caswell Center, Mrs. Doris Simmons; and devoted cousin, Thomas Dawson.

Service will be held at 1:30 pm Sunday, April 26, 2026, from Holly Grove Free Will Baptist Church, and burial will follow in the Alice G. Wright (Holly Grove) Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 4 to 6pm from the Robert A. Swinson, Jr. Memorial Chapel.

Miss Annie is survived by three brothers, Clifton Davis, Jr. of Silver Springs, Kenneth Davis of La Grange, and Larry (Connie Davis of Virginia, four sisters, Delores Cannon, Mae Davis Darden, Geraldine Davis, and Thelma D. Jones all of Kinston, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. 

Please keep the Davis family, Holly Grove FWB Church, and all connected friends of Annie Blanche in your thoughts and prayers during this sorrowful time. 

"I'm free, Praise the Lord I'm free, no longer bound, no more chains holding me, my soul is resting, it is just a blessing, Praise the Lord, Hallelujah I am Free."