Rachel H. Davis

“See Ya around the campfire, Baba.” Rachel Huggins Davis passed peacefully at home in Greenville, SC on April 10, 2021 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was surrounded by her loving husband and beloved children and grandchildren. She was born December 22, 1940 in Lancaster, SC to the late Oscar and Edna Huggins and a guiding big sister to Rebekah Huggins Hammond. In 1963, after a lengthy and dogged pursuit, she married her high school sweetheart, Bruce Edward Davis – he considers himself very lucky he couldn’t get away.

Rachel grew up in Lancaster, SC, loving trains like the one her father engineered for Lancaster Chester Railroad Line. In high school she was the proudest member of the 1963 South Carolina High School State Basketball Champions “Mighty Mites.” She remained friends with her team mates throughout her life. In fact, most people could say that about Rachel. Once she became your friend, she was always your friend – not the kind of friend you remember from times past, but a friend you remember from yesterday. She made sure of that. She thanked God for the invention of the telephone.

Rachel spent most of her life in Camden, SC where friends and family were always welcomed in Radu’s kitchen with fresh brewed sweet tea, freshly made “trash”, homemade southern comfort food, an earnest ear and, when asked and sometimes when not, sage advice. It was from her kitchen around the fireplace and the dinner table that Rachel raised her three daughters, Bridget Swing, Britt Vergnolle and Rebekah White and later her “adopted” daughter Svetlana Obradovich. Her kitchen was the stage for her life, hosting countless dinners, parties, dancing, plays, 1980s hair perms, and happiness. You entered her home through her kitchen door.

Rachel loved and was devoted to everyone’s children. She was a teacher of life, serving as an unconventional Girl Scout Leader and elementary school teacher. She spearheaded the creation of Junior Leadership of Kershaw County, created the Gold & Black Club at Camden High School and supported the Kershaw County public school system through volunteering, fundraising and advocacy. She especially loved her grandchildren: Harper, Davis, Adelaide, Britton, Finch, Hilton, Ann Hatcher and Betts.

In 2019, Baba received one of the luckiest gifts a person could find when she was united with her brother she never knew she and Rebekah had, Steve Kennedy from Detroit, Michigan.

Her “Always Tree” was a metaphor of her life. She designated someone to decorate it under her supervision for every conceivable holiday and season. It was a symbol of her positivity, happiness, dedication, determination, hope, tradition and style. Rachel was The Always Tree for so many people throughout her life.

Rachel decided years ago to donate her brain to the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr Neuropathology Laboratory (Brain Bank) at MUSC for the continued research of Parkinson’s disease. Memorials may be made to the Rachel and Bruce Davis Always Tree Foundation. https://www.yourfoundation.org/give-now/impact-funds/rachelandbrucedavisfund/ The family would like to thank her dedicated caregivers in the last year of her life: Dale, Helen and Ruby. Their patience and care will not be forgotten as well as their many trips to her favorite shopping destinations and Chic-fil-A, despite her deep disappointment that they removed the carrot salad from their menu.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 4:00 o’clock p.m. in Quaker Cemetery, 713 Meeting Lane, Camden, SC. Burial will follow in the cemetery.

The family will greet friends following the service at the cemetery.

Baker Funeral Home, Kershaw, SC is serving the Davis family.