Starling Pressnell Davis

Mrs. Starling Pressnell Davis, 98, longtime resident of Columbia, died Friday, March 18, 2022 in Nashville where she had made her home the last several years. A graveside service for Mrs. Davis will be conducted Friday, March 25th at 3:00 p.m. at St. John’s Churchyard in Columbia with The Reverend Chris Bowhay officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at West End United Methodist Church 2200 West End Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born on February 11, 1924 in Davidson County, she was the daughter of the late James Wayne Pressnell and the late Lottie Blocker Pressnell. Mrs. Davis was a graduate of Columbia Central High School Class of 1942 and went on to attend Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. She married Winfred Jefferson Davis, Sr. on May 18, 1945 whom preceded her in death on January 30, 1982. Mrs. Davis was one of the owners’ of the Davis Group. She was a member of Graymere Country Club, Columbia Garden Club, Volunteer Garden Club, several bridge clubs, the James K Polk Association, The Monteagle Sunday School Assembly and First United Methodist Church in Columbia. Known by her family and friends as “Ma”, she was truly a Steel Magnolia. From the way she loved, to the way she made people laugh, Ma filled everyone’s cup. She had the most uncanny southern accent, making every one syllable word into five. She made you feel at home if you knew her for one minute or a lifetime. Ma was quite a traveler. She often said Hong Kong was her absolute favorite place to visit. She loved the food and the shopping. When she wasn’t traveling, she was taking care of her family with delicious southern, comfort food. Ma always said “Honey, you need to add a little more garlic, onion and a stick of butter”. No one could play “Boogie-woogie” quite like her. She made her piano rock. If you were lucky enough to know her, you were blessed to be loved by her. When she arrived at the gates and saw Saint Peter, she asked “May I come in?, he opened the gates and said “Right this way Ma”. Survivors include her daughter, Starling Davis (David) Clark of Nashville; granddaughters, Starling Davis Crabtree and Hayden Lash (Brent) Blane both of Nashville; great-grandchildren, Starling Marie Nowell and James Bowie Blane. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Winfred Jefferson Davis, Jr. on March 25, 2002. We are grateful for her caregivers; Frances Burdette, Jan Norby, Tina Nguyen, Saba Berhanu, Bebeyou Kevede, Shelby Riddle. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to Alive Hospice 1718 Patterson Street Nashville, Tennessee 37203 or Nashville Humane Society 213 Oceola Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37209.