LaNelle Davis

LaNelle Miller Davis, age 82, of Ocean Springs and formerly of Long Beach, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

LaNelle was born on September 15, 1940 in Columbia, MS to Joseph Elmer and Sarah Patterson Miller. She grew up in Pascagoula, MS and graduated from Pascagoula High School. She attended LSU for two years before returning to the coast where she met and married Ronald Davis in October of 1962. LaNelle and Ron had two children, Sonja and Joey. They moved to Long Beach where they worked and raised their family. LaNelle worked as an administrator for Housing Urban Development for over 40 years before retiring after Katrina. She then moved to Ocean Springs and lived there until her death.

LaNelle (better known by her family as Nannie) spent her retirement years volunteering for Memorial Hospital in Gulfport earning over 800 service hours. She also was a member of the Red Hat Ladies Society, Sassy Katz and TOPS in which she enjoyed many luncheons, dinners and holiday festivities. She was an avid Saints fan and delighted in sharing her season tickets with family and friends. Having a great love for camping and the outdoors, she spent many weekends with her companion, Ed Gable, and their camping group frequenting state parks throughout the South. She adored animals and enjoyed many pets over the years. She leaves behind her precious cats Lucy and Tigger and her pup, Milo.

She attended several Methodist churches on the coast over the years and was a member of South MS Methodist Cursillo. She had a strong faith and love for God and enjoyed reading the Bible and the Upper Room devotional.

LaNelle was a loving and caring sister, mother and grandmother. She was very close to her children and her siblings and was always there for them. She was especially proud of and devoted to her six grandchildren and was very much a part of their lives. If the grandkids needed anything, she never refused them and was present at all of their life events. The holidays were her favorite time of the year, and we all looked forward to her famous deviled
eggs at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Joseph T. Davis; brother and sister-in-law, Herman Miller and Mary Miller; and sister-in-law, Billie Jean Miller.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sonja Gaddy and Dr. Gene Gaddy; sister and brother-in-law, Elmerlene Adas and Ahmad Adas; brother, Eugene Miller; grandchildren , Dr. Ira Gaddy and Jocy McFarlane, Dr. Cliff Gaddy and Asel Rysal, Janie Casey and Ryan Casey, Jacob Gaddy, Alyssa Davis , Lauryn Atwood and Kenneth Atwood; great grandchildren, Sophia Gaddy, Quinn Gaddy, Fenway Atwood, Cooper Atwood, Cy Atwood and Caroline Atwood; many nieces and nephews; and companion of many years , Edgar Gable.

We are all devastated by the loss of Nannie, but we know she is watching us and the Saints in Heaven! We love you Nannie!!

A visitation will be held at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach, MS from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Tuesday, December 13, 2022. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 3:00 pm.  Burial will be in Gulf Pines Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of South Mississippi at www.hssm.com.

Riemann Family Funeral Home is serving the family.