Susan Foster Davis
January 2, 1942 - January 5, 2025
Susan Foster Davis, still charming and vivacious at 83, passed away on January 5, 2025. At the time of her death, Susan was residing in Boulder, Colorado, near her daughter Heather, son-in-law Mark, and granddaughters Ava and Shae. Until then, she resided in Marianna, Florida, with her husband of 31 years, John Wayne Davis. She will forever be remembered as that petite, beautiful woman who possessed unparalleled strength and stamina.
Susan was born to Jack and Mary Lou Foster on January 2, 1942, at the old Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. In 1949 the family moved to Crestview, Florida. In high school, her vibrant personality flourished through her passions - marching band and dance. At a mere 4 '11" majorette, she impressed innumerable football fans with her energetic baton-twirling performances. After graduating in 1959, she earned her degree in Education from Troy State College in 1965. This small and very Southern institution was the ideal place for Susan, with her glamorous good looks, to shine in various beauty queen pageants.
She began her long teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Escambia County Schools in Pensacola and in San Diego, California, before accepting a job with the Department of Defense Dependent schools (DODS). Her first DODS teaching assignment was in Germany where she met her future husband, Jack Pylant, a high school biology teacher. This small-town girl loved life overseas and traveled extensively to most of the western European countries.
The couple was posted to Okinawa for a year and then settled in the Panama Canal Zone, Republic of Panama, where their daughter Heather was born in 1969. Susan had a deep appreciation of the Panamanian culture, art, people, and cuisine. Susan taught kindergarten and 1st grade at Balboa Elementary School, where she made an indelible impact on many children’s lives. She worked as a reading specialist and finally as a resource room teacher at Balboa High School. While in the Canal Zone, Susan earned a master’s degree from Penn State. She retired from DODS schools in 1990 and returned to Florida to be near her aging parents and work at Pensacola State College.
In 1993 she married her old friend and college sweetheart, John Davis, who grew up in Laurel Hill, Florida. They briefly lived in Atlanta, where Susan worked for General Motors. After John Wayne’s federal retirement, they purchased a house in Marianna, Florida – a creative outlet for Susan, who transformed a regular house into a spectacular home. Susan, as always, enjoyed hosting memorable family events and parties. She was a fabulous host, known throughout the area for entertainment with that special, charismatic, Susan touch.
Susan devoted her final career years to Sunland Center, a State-run adult Developmental Disability Center. She trained, educated and supported residents and staff, including a workshop on domestic violence. This provided a deep sense of accomplishment, knowing she had made major contributions in a vital area that was so important to her. Amidst her backyard trees, birds, and other wildlife along Merrits Mill Pond, she enjoyed the quiet and peace with her beloved, yet unruly labrador, Cornbread.
In 2021, Susan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which she bravely announced at a family gathering and provided life expectancy estimates from the doctor in true “say it like it is” Susan fashion. In her final months, she was witty, funny, insightful, smart, loving, caring and above all, totally unafraid. Always brave, she faced whatever would come - faithfully believing that puppies, rainbows, babies, and flowers awaited her in the next life. Her most notable final quote: “I’m not leaving, I’m arriving”.
Survivors and witnesses to her amazing life include husband John Wayne, daughter Heather Pylant & husband, Mark Williams. She also left behind three loving brothers: Donald Crosby and his wife Pam, Robert Crosby and his wife Jane, and George Foster and his wife Sue. Her legacy lives on through her granddaughters, Ava and Shae Williams, who carry the torch of her spirit along with several nieces and nephews.
The “Connection To Life” (Susan’s words) memorial service to honor her life will be held on April 25, 2025, at the Bayview Community Resource Center in Pensacola, Florida.
Although Susan’s physical presence may no longer grace our lives, her spirit continues to inspire us. May her memory be a blessing, that we carry forward with love and wonder in all that we do. As she specified, Susan’s ashes will be spread in Texar Bayou in Pensacola.
Donations
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to:
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
Susan’s Connection to Life Memorial Service
The “Connection To Life” (Susan’s words) memorial service to honor her life will be held on April 25, 2025, at 10:00am at the Bayview Community Resource Center in Pensacola, Florida. The service will be webcast via ZOOM for those who would like to participate remotely.
Friday, April 25, 2025
10:00am CST (Central)
Bayview Community Resource Center
2001 E Lloyd Street
Pensacola, FL 32503
Susan Foster Davis CONNECTION TO LIFE Memorial Service ZOOM link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84467114411?pwd=9XvJbTt4cz7AezCY1AVOaoJcEXIz91.1
**If moved to do so, please send an email with any memories, stories or photos to share to:
rememberingsusandavis@gmail.com
