Ionia Marie Davis

The Journey of IONIA (Onie) MARIE HANDY MARSHALL DAVIS 

Sunrise March 3, 1930 - Sunset April 11, 2022, Pocomoke City, Maryland. Age 92 years old, from Frankford, Delaware, Bishopville, Maryland and Berlin, Maryland.

Born in Whaleyville, Maryland to Wallace F. Handy and Radie E. Waples. Ionia received her education at Bishop Elementary in Bishop, Maryland; Flower Street Elementary in Berlin, Maryland; Worcester High School in Snow Hill, Maryland and as a housewife with 6 children received her cosmetologist license at Hollywood Beauty School in Salisbury, Maryland. Ionia worked at Stockley Hospital in Georgetown, Delaware and H&H Poultry renamed Mountaire, in Selbyville, Delaware. After graduating from Hollywood Beauty School, she returned as a Teacher and in 1971 opened Ionia’s Beauty Salon in Frankford, Delaware.

Ionia was a member of the NAACP along with other family members and friends who joined the struggle for equal education for their children and community. She joined Antioch African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church after transferring from Zoar United Methodist Church in 1950. At Antioch she was a member of the following: Steward Board, Lay Organization, Board of Education; Usher President; Unity Gospel Choir; Singing and Praying Band; Camp Committee, Class #5, Christian Education and Youth Sunday School Teacher.

Hobbies included ushering, singing, cooking, decorating and hair dressing. She also worked as an entrepreneur by selling BeeLine Clothing, Amway products, Prepaid Legal and hosted Tupperware Parties.

Preceded in death by her father, Wallace Handy and mother, Radie Waples Handy Trader; 1st husband of 20 years: Frank P. Marshall and 2nd husband: Edward Davis; brothers: Wallace F. Handy and Ralph Handy; sisters: Helen Mitchell Smith, Lola Handy and Radie Fooks.

Survived by daughters: Geraldine Carroll of Atlanta, GA, Teresa Marshall of Upper Marlboro, MD, and Cynthia Basnight of Capitol Heights, MD, and sons: Frank (Elmira) Marshall of Richmond, VA; Bruce (Robin) Marshall of Salisbury, MD; and Bryan (Sharonne) Marshall of Waldorf, MD; a grandchild she raised, Konya Crippen and special nephew who visited often, Albin “Al Hondo” Handy; 18 grandchildren she adored and a host of beautiful great-grands and five precious great-great grandchildren.

Surviving siblings are brother: Monroe Handy Sr. of Philadelphia, PA and sister: Mildred Briddell of Seaford, DE; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, who all loved her dearly.

Note: Howell & Jolley Memorial Chapel, P.A. will comply with the COVID-19 rules regarding masks and safe social distancing. Therefore, anyone attending the viewing and/or funeral services must wear a mask. 

Funeral services will be live-streamed - Howell & Jolley Memorial Chapel PA, FACEBOOK page: http://www.facebook.com/howellandjolleymemorialchapel (please copy this address into browser)

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