Reba Jean Davis

Reba Jean Davis was born January 7, 1935, in Monroe County, Alabama to Samuel and Mattie Bailey. The Bailey family was a large family of 10, and they later moved to Atmore, Alabama where Reba graduated from Escambia High School.

Reba married Alton Davis in March 1953. They lived in Atmore and Mobile, Alabama until they moved to San Antonio, Texas in 1966 where Alton was transferred to Kelly Field. They quickly moved to New Braunfels and bought a home on Guada Coma Drive.

Reba had 4 sons who were all born in Alabama: Darrell, Gerry, Larry and Edgar (Eddie}. While raising the 4 boys, Reba attended Rose Hogan’s School of Beauty in the evenings after Alton got home from work. Reba got a job in a salon as a hairdresser and to many people’s surprise, she opened her first salon in 1969 in the little snow cone building next to Ducky’s. Many people didn’t think a woman could run a business back then, but she did it for many years. Reba had “prissed” into the bank and didn’t know you needed your husband with you to get a loan; however, she was able to get her own business loan. In 1982 Reba opened her next salon on Business 81 in a building Alton had purchased close to New Braunfels Middle School. Reba was Reba! She was ahead of her time, and was still able to build a good reputation as an honest businesswoman.

Reba got burned out doing hair and rented her building out to William Edge before selling it. She went to work at the Vogue Beauty College and taught personal development and how to do hair color. Before Reba retired, she also worked with the National Accreditation Commission where she checked beauty colleges and made sure they were performing to standard. Reba always had to be doing something, so she and her friend, Peggy had a lingerie business for a retirement gig.

Reba enjoyed bowling, playing cards, BBQing, and had a great time being with friends. One of her passions was sewing. She was always making something special for someone.

Reba loved to travel, so she continued to travel in retirement as long as she could. Peggy was her travel companion for many years on road trips and cruises. Her Panama Canal cruise, Boston and Niagara Falls trips were a few of her favorite trips.
She also traveled to Paris with her niece, Cindy Davis, took a train to Germany, and saw the Moulin Rouge in France. She always said she was fortunate in her travels.

Even with all Reba’s successes, her pride and joy were her kids and her 4 grandsons: Zachary, Vincente, Luciano, and Christopher. Reba talked of her boys all the time and loved them all dearly.

Reba was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sons Eddie Davis (2009) and Gerry Davis (2014). She is survived by her sons, Darrell Davis and Larry (Terry) Davis; her grandsons, Zachary Davis, Vincente Davis, Luciano (Lucy) Davis, and Christopher (Arianna) Davis; and her great granddaughter, Ella Rose Davis.

Reba’s services will be held at 2:00pm on November 12, 2024 at Oakwood Baptist Church.