Berlin, MD. Mary Ann (Ward) Davis departed this life on January 3, 2026, at Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility. She was 92. Born in Salisbury, MD on August 13, 1933, Mary Ann was the daughter of James Roland and Mary Elizabeth (Johnson) Ward. For several years, the family lived in Snow Hill, MD while Roland taught for Worcester County Schools. After Roland's father's death, they moved in with his mother on the family farm in Woodfield. There, Mary Ann's two brothers, Tom and Jim, were born.

Mary Ann attended Damascus Elementary School and Damascus Junior-Senior High School (Class of 1951). She played basketball and was very active with 4H. She graduated with a B.A. in Home Economics from the University of Maryland, Class of 1955. In addition to her courses, Mary Ann enjoyed the extra-curricular aspect of college life. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Also, she sang with a group of seven students called the Bob-O-Larks. The Bob-O-Larks performed at radio stations in Washington, DC and Baltimore. They were featured at several Baltimore hotels and sang at the Lyric Theater.

Mary Ann's love of travel began in the summer of 1954, when she was chosen to accompany the wife and young son of a diplomat as they toured the United States. The trip went smoothly except for the one afternoon they mistakenly drove into Mexico. Anong and Phai had their passports, but the two women had a lot of explaining to do before they were allowed back over the border!

After graduation, Mary Ann began teaching Grade 6 at Germantown Elementary School. For the remainder of her career, she taught Home Economics at Leland Junior High, and at Einstein, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley Senior High Schools. She was instrumental in creating the Child Development curriculum for Montgomery County Public Schools and directed the course at both Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley. Although Food Service was part of the curriculum (and she was a good cook), Mary Ann excelled at Clothing Construction, Tailoring and Fashion Merchandising.

On December 29, 1955, Mary Ann married Clifford James Davis, Jr. in a ceremony at Wesley Grove Methodist Church in Woodfield. She made her own dress as well as those of her four attendants and two flower girls. After a honeymoon in Williamsburg, VA the newlyweds lived in an apartment over the drugstore on Main Street in Damascus. While living in the apartment, their first daughter Debbie was born. The couple built a home in Woodfield on the family farm, next to brother Tom and his wife June. Shortly after moving to Woodfield Road, twins Mike and Mollie arrived. What a surprise -- no one had expected more than one baby!!

During the mid- to late 1960s, the entire family were Baltimore Colts fans because youngest brother Jim played for the team. The adults had season tickets to games in Memorial Stadium. At one game, Mary Ann found herself in the program as the "Face in the Crowd," and she won a souvenir football, signed by the entire 1967 team!

Like many Maryland families, the Davises spent summer vacations at the beach in Ocean City, where they could catch up with "the folk" from Snow Hill and with Cliff's family in Pittsville and Berlin. After one notable week where Mike got lost (temporarily) and Cliff got a parking ticket for having his car bumper a few inches over the curb, Cliff vowed he'd never return. And just like that, the National Lampoon-style vacation was initiated. The family made trips to New England, Virginia and the Carolinas. Church members had embraced camping, and Mary Ann and Cliff were no exception. They bought a pop-up camper and used it almost every weekend. Granite Hill Campground near Gettysburg, PA was a favorite place to go.

No matter where the family spent its vacation, everyone was home for the annual King-Burdette Family Reunion, held on the 2nd Saturday in August at Wesley Grove. Mary Ann served one term as President and many terms as Secretary. Daughter Mollie was the designated "reader of the minutes," since Mary Ann couldn't read them aloud without crying! She was intrigued by genealogy and enjoyed collecting items and stories from the 11 King brothers and sisters. Her posters of those siblings, as well as her creative ones with articles and photos from past reunions were always a hit! This hobby led to a lifetime of studying ancestors from the other branches of her family, as well as looking for the stories of Cliff's family.

Time passed, and Mike settled in Huntsville, AL. Mary Ann and Cliff enjoyed visiting him and his family there. Debbie married and moved to the Philadelphia area, prompting many drives north. Cliff took back his vow of never returning to Ocean City, and they purchased a condo on 144th Street, making many good friends at The Pelican and visiting Eastern Shore relatives.

Once she left teaching, Mary Ann took part in planning the Montgomery County Retired Teachers' travels. The group toured Branson, MO and many parts of New England and Canada. They cruised the Mississippi. Every December, they spent a few days in New York City and visited the White House at Christmas. They stayed locally too, traveling to Solomon's Island and Southern Maryland. Everyone always enjoyed the summer trip to hear the Boston Pops at Wolf Trap. Mary Ann and Cliff also traveled to Ireland, England and France, and cruised to Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. They enjoyed flying to Dallas to visit brother Jim and his family there.

When she wasn't traveling, Mary Ann was very active in Wesley Grove United Methodist Church where she was a lifelong member. She was on the Administrative Council for several years. She was a member of the choir and enjoyed helping at fundraising suppers. But mostly she was the church organist -- for over four decades! Playing both the organ and the piano gave her great joy, and she was able to play into her nineties, even as dementia robbed her of other abilities.

Mary Ann and Cliff both enjoyed gardening and working in their yard. Mary Ann's special interest was in growing roses and herbs. She used both to make potpourri and other crafts. Her house was always filled with floral arrangements, and she was very creative in incorporating out-of-the-ordinary plants. Other creative outlets included knitting, crocheting and needlework. But above all, she was an incredible seamstress, making her own, her daughters' and her granddaughters' clothing. She rivaled decorators in sewing window treatments, but also loved helping with school performance costumes. Her hands were never idle!

In addition to her parents, Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband Cliff, her brother Tom and her daughter Mollie. She is survived by her brother Jim (Pam) of Dallas, TX, sister-in-law June of Woodfield, daughter Debbie Speier (Dave) of Berlin, MD, son Mike (Melody) of Athens, AL. She is also survived by three grandchildren whom she adored: Stephanie Tillman (Jon), Georgia Speier and Drake Davis, as well as two great grandchildren. It would be remiss not to mention her nieces, great nieces and nephews as well as a host of cousins whom she enjoyed keeping up with over the years.

Her family would like to thank the staff of Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Home for their care of Mary Ann in her final months. Donations in Mary Ann's memory may be made to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802.

Burial / Services will be private.

NO Services at the Funeral Home