Covenant minister Ethel Davis of Alsip, Illinois, died on April 6, 2025. She was 70.
Ethel Louise Davis was born on October 11, 1954, to John and Louise Patten in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Englewood High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education with an emphasis in special education from Chicago State University.
She married Johnny Davis and from that union came her greatest joy, her daughter, Tanesha Nicole.
As a single mother, Ethel dedicated her life to providing a nurturing environment that allowed Tanesha to flourish as an adult and mother of her own children, Isaiah and Elijah. Collectively, Ethel called them her “three heartbeats.”
Ethel dedicated 35 years of service to Chicago Public Schools, inspiring countless students who had learning and behavioral disabilities. She was a continuous learner and her devout faith in God propelled her to pursue higher education. She earned two master’s degrees from North Park Theological Seminary, an MDiv and a master’s in Christian education.
Ethel dedicated her life to service and ministry at Community Covenant Church of Calumet Park for over 30 years. Her contributions included serving as Sunday school superintendent, vacation Bible school director, New Members ministry, and director of missions and evangelism. She led two missions teams in Kingston, Jamaica, with an objective of planting a new church and developing vacation Bible school programming for children and teens in a remote village.
During the last several years of her life, God led her to Lighthouse Church of All Nations. She humbly submitted herself to the mission and vision of the church leadership and dedicated time in study through All Nations Leadership Institute (ANLI). She satisfied all requirements for both the elder and pastoral
tracks. Ethel faithfully served with the prayer team and Ladies of the Light Women’s Ministry, and she also supported various outreach and evangelism events in the surrounding communities. Ethel traveled to both Israel and Greece for spiritual reflection and renewal. She truly loved her church family and felt the reciprocal impact from all she encountered.
While her absence is heartfelt by many, we know that the Word of God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.”
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, John Robert and Louise Patten; sister Beverly Fields (Jerome); and brothers, Anthony, Charles, and Kenneth.
She is survived by her daughter Tanesha Nicole; grandsons, Isaiah and Elijah, sisters, Vivian Wilson, Patricia Hoskins (James), and Denise Danner; brothers John Robert and Daniel Patten; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and godsisters in Christ, Rev. Queen O’Neal, Pastor Katherine J. Gethers, and Dinah Gonzales; and an abundance of loving friends, neighbors, and her Lighthouse Church of All Nations family.
Her memorial service was held at Lighthouse Church of All Nations on April 17, 2025.
Peace be to her memory.
