Myrtle H. Davis

Published 10:03 am Tuesday, April 22, 2025

MURFREESBORO – Myrtle Harrell Davis, a cherished member of her community and beloved by family and friends, passed away peacefully on April 20, 2025, at the age of 87 at ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Born on March 21, 1938, in Gates County, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Emmitt Maxie Harrell and Merlie Harrell Harrell.

Myrtle earned a two-year business degree in her late thirties and early forties while balancing family responsibilities. She brought this knowledge into her work and personal life, staying up-to-date with modern technology and efficiently managing tasks like banking and bill payment online. She dedicated her career to serving at Belk, where her kindness and hard work left a lasting impression on colleagues.

A vibrant spirit, Myrtle was known to be the life of the party, spreading joy and warmth wherever she went. Her fondness for the beach and love for flowers highlighted her appreciation for nature’s beauty. Despite the loss of her husband, Johnnie Alton Davis, she embraced life with resilience, spending thirty years alone facing all of life’s issues fiercely. In remembrance of this extraordinary woman, we celebrate a life lived fully, marked by devotion, love, and everlasting impact on those who had the privilege to know her.

Devoted to her faith, Myrtle was a dedicated member of Meherrin Baptist Church, where she was a former Sunday School teacher and GA Leader. Her spiritual life was a foundation for her values and relationships throughout her life.

Myrtle’s family was central to her world. She cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, delighting in their achievements and growth. She leaves behind her daughters, Myra Northcott and her husband Gary of Ahoskie, NC, and June Jernigan and her husband Walter “Pete” of Kelford, NC. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren, Jeffrey Northcott and his wife Tori, and Anthony Northcott, and great-grandchildren: Magnolia, Clara, and Raleigh Northcott, all of whom held a special place in her heart. Additionally, her memory will be cherished by her brothers, Richard Harrell and his wife Rebecca of Winton, NC, and Stanley Harrell of Mississippi.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Johnnie Alton Davis; her parents; her brother, Mills Harrell; and her sisters, Faye and Betty Harrell, and Florence Cullipher.

A celebration of her life will take place on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Meherrin Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, NC, officiated by Rev. John Porter. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the committal at the cemetery.

Online condolences can be made at www.garrettsykesfs.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Garrett-Sykes Memorial Chapel, located at 314 W. Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC 27855, (252) 396-0202.