The family of Georgina Willimina Davids had been counting down to a milestone celebration when she passed away 18 days before her 101st birthday.

Davids died on 1 July, aged 100. She would have turned 101 on 19 July.

Her daughter Rita Scheffers said the family had planned to gather at the youngest sister’s home, where Davids had been living, with children, grandchildren and a few close friends.

“My mother had a lot of friends,” said Scheffers. “She was just a phenomenal woman.”

Later years

Born on 19 July 1925, Davids spent time at Mandalay Place, a complex for pensioners, before moving in with Scheffers in Rocklands, where she lived for 20 years. In the final two years of her life, she moved to the home of Scheffers’ youngest sister, in Hanover Park.

In her later years, Davids used a wheelchair. She never needed glasses, however, right up to the day she died. She also played the keyboard and was known for her still reprimanding her senior citizen daughters, aged 79, 68 and 63, especially Scheffers for having a “built-in microphone”.

“Sy’t nog vir ons op onse plekke gesit,” Scheffers said. “I have a very loud voice en dan sê my ma vir my: ‘Rita, jy moet leer om sag te praat. Ons kan almal vir jou hoor.”

Davids told her family that the secret to a long life was to honour your parents.

Family

Davids had five children, including two sons, who predeceased her, and three daughters. She is survived by her three daughters, 9 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. The father of her children died on 25 January 2004 after a short illness in hospital.

Condolences

The family said the messages of condolence since Davids’ death had been overwhelming. The mayor, who attended her 100th birthday celebration the previous year, also sent condolences.

Funeral

The funeral service took place at Rocklands Baptist Church on Sunday 12 July.

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