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THE DAVIS LEGACY DERMOTT, ARK 71638

M.E. Davis (4/5/89-1/28/54)

The important work of M.E. and Etta Conneliaus Davis contributed to the migration of African Americans into the Arkansas Delta. In the 1920s, Davis left Louisiana and took a job as personal secretary to wealthy Dermott farmer Harvey Parnell, who also served as Arkansas' governor from 1928 to 1933. Parnell mentored Davis in real estate.

Parnell, a wealthy Dermott farmer, mentored Davis in real estate. As Davis acquired land himself, he developed it and used it to help settle impoverished families from his native Louisiana to Dermott, where jobs were plentiful.

In 1925, Davis built a spacial two-story home to host these black newcomers.

As a real estate broker and landowner, Davis helped the families find work in Dermott's three saw mills and sold them land for $50 per lot, starting them on their way as new property owners.

Davis hired many people as real estate agents, and in 1935, founded the Davis Church Burial Assocation, a funeral insurance program. The program saved Davis from the woes of the Great Depression years by affording impoverished individuals quality funerals for their loved ones. M.E. was one of the first two black men in SE Arkansas to operate insurance associations.

These early successes led Davis to open Davis Funeral Home, which itself became a source of jobs in the community.

Etta Conneliaus (3/28/02-1/3/79)

Mrs. Etta Conneliaus Davis
Mrs. Etta Conneliaus Davis raised many grandchildren in her now historic home and continued her husband's legacy long after he died. Her daughters operated three businesses in the community. Maude Etta (aka Doll) married John W. Dillard and together opened Dillard's Funeral Home. Matthew (aka Peaches) married the Rev. Warren Strickland who are the proprietors of Davis-Strickland Funeral Home. Dorothy operated the popular Pink Panther Liquor Store and later moved to Louisiana.

The Davis' Grandchildren
M.E and Connelias's grandchildren include: Sharon Davis, Warren Strickland III, Dexter Duren, Mia Davis, Traci Davis, Racquel Davis, Tuesday Williams, Joy and Johnetta Dillard and a host of great grandchildren.

The Legacy Continues...
The Davis legacy continues to create jobs for the community and inspire future leaders for years to come.

The area is home to a myriad of farms, including cotton, soybean, corn and our favorite -- cat fish farms. This is the agricultural Arkansas Delta, where Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi meet.

Here, both cotton and catfish are king.

 

Once renovations are complete, Inn Keepers and Granddaughters of M.E. Davis, Joy and Johnetta Dillard will welcome guests to the historic home.

Inn Keeper Johnetta Dillard

Inn Keeper Joy Dillard is known
for her bright cheery smiles.