Geri Davidson passed away peacefully at age 88 surrounded by her family on March 17, 2023. She was born in Greensboro, N.C., to Howard and Ella Staley.
In addition to her parents, Geri was preceded in death by her siblings, Pauline, Lib, Sonny, and Jane.
She is survived by her husband, John L. Davidson; her children, Lynn Davidson (Lee Ann), Joe Davidson (Beth), and Margie Davidson; and her grandchildren, Meaghan, Suzannah, Andrew, Laurie Claire, and Christopher. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Geri attended Hudson High School and earned a Broyhill Scholarship to attend Appalachian State Teachers College (Appalachian State University) to become an educator. She was an accomplished athlete at ASU, lettering in several different sports. Geri met the love of her life, John Davidson, during a snowball fight on campus. They married in 1956 after John returned home from service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. After graduation, Geri and John moved to Florida to start their teaching careers and returned to Statesville, N.C., in 1960 to start their family and continue teaching. Geri taught middle school her entire career and developed lifelong friendships with her colleagues at D. Matt Thompson Junior High and Troutman Middle School. She and John moved to Mooresville in the mid-80s, where they lived on Lake Norman for more than 40 years before moving to The Pines at Davidson.
The couple joined the Lake Norman Yacht Club (LNYC) in 1969 and bought a Thistle class sailboat. Over the next 30-plus years, Geri and John participated in sailing regattas all over the Southeast. John was the captain, Geri the first mate, and the kids were the crew. The friendships they enjoyed with LNYC and Thistle sailing enthusiasts were the most precious and still exist today. Geri was famous for many dishes she brought to sailing events, especially her Kahlu’a brownies and homemade pimento cheese. Another hobby Geri and John developed was traveling the country and to Canada in their Austin Healey with the Charlotte Austin Healey Club. Again, the friendships they developed with the members of the club, especially the Seaside Seven, are so precious to them.
Geri had so many passions, from cooking to gardening to reading and her rock collection from around the world. In her younger days, she enjoyed playing tennis with her lifelong friends in Statesville and from LNYC. Of all her passions, cooking with and planning treasure hunts for her grandchildren ranked at the top. Cooking classes included aprons and chef’s hats, and the treasure hunts were done by boat with pirate hats and swords. She was so proud of all her grandchildren and she would not hesitate to provide them with some “grandmotherly advice” when they needed it, whether they asked or not. Geri was beloved by family and friends on a monumental scale. She gave as good as she got.
Special thanks to the entire staff at The Pines at Davidson and the S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House in Mooresville for the incredible love, care, and support they gave Geri and our family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Lake Norman Yacht Club sailing camp scholarship fund, S. Mitchell Mack Hospice House of Iredell County, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Lake Norman Yacht Club on Saturday, April 29, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com for the Davidson family.
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the family.
One of my favorite teachers at DMT. Prayers being sent.
Sending prayers to the family in your time of loss.
Mrs. Davidson was such an amazing teacher. She truly wanted to see us do well in life, she made class interesting and learning easy.
She was one of so many teachers at DMT that is the reason so many of us have such amazing memories and good lives. She was part of the group that taught us not only history, math, science, english, health and PE but how to be confident, positive, kind, fair, and successful. We quickly learned respect for them as we entered the 7th grade and it was given right back to us. This group left such a positive impression on us. They worked tirelessly to help us do our best and to keep us in check.
Having been a student there it was like having lots of extra parents. In some cases they showed more attention, care and interest in you, than you received at home.
May you rest and peace and be rewarded for all your dedicated work. ?❤️
My deepest condolences and Love to you all. ?? There are so many memories and wonderful times. Our mothers are a dynamic Duo again.
?✝️??