1 p.m. for Davis funeral

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

Feb. 7, 2000 10 PM

The Pike County Courthouse will close at 1 p.m. today so employees can attend the funeral of a long-time friend and co-worker.

Cindy Connell Davis, who was employed at the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, died Saturday afternoon at the University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center.

On July 4, 1996, Davis underwent a double lung transplant at the same Birmingham hospital where she died just after noon Saturday.

The 52-year-old, who was a secretary for the Pike County Sheriff’s Department for 14 years, underwent the surgery because she suffered from acute emphysema caused by years of smoking. Damage to her lungs could only be repaired by a double lung transplant.

Those who are mourning Davis’ death rallied around her with fund-raising efforts, prayers and personal support.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas went to Birmingham last week to see Davis because her condition had deteriorated.

"She was a good person and a good friend," Thomas said of his former employee.

Peggy Barbaree rode with Davis in the ambulance the day the call came telling her two lungs were waiting in Birmingham.

For Barbaree, the loss is even greater than it is for many others because the two had been friends since they were in the seventh grade together 40 years ago.

She described her friend as "very generous" and said Davis had a "dry wit."

Barbaree and Deputy Henry Wentland said Davis was always ready to help someone in need, even after her surgery.

The woman described as "simplistic" and "down to earth" once owned a restaurant in Brundidge and continued to bake goodies for the deputies when she was well enough to do so.

"She was the most loving, caring person I’ve ever known," Wentland said. "She looked after us."

The service for Davis will be today at 2 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home in Brundidge with burial at Brundidge City Cemetery.

Members of the sheriff’s office will serve as pallbearers.

In addition to her friends and co-workers, Davis is survived by her mother, Juliette Connell of Pike Manor; three sisters, Susan Childers of Montgomery, Becky Hall of Macon, Ga. and Julie Beam of Victoria; two brothers, Joe Connell of Brundidge and Jimmy Connell of Banks.