Jane Benton Davis, 100, of Montgomery, died Friday, January 2, 2026.  Born on July 18, 1925, in Opp, Alabama, she was the daughter of Joe Benton and Mary Annie Morrow Benton.  Her mother didn't give the "Benton Girls" (Jane and her sisters Betty and Joann) middle names so people would know who they were before they married.

Growing up in a small Southern town during the Great Depression much like the one described in "To Kill a Mockingbird" instilled in Jane the values that would shape her life: her family always attended the Methodist Church, and Opp was a tight knit community where neighbors shared what little they had – "food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between."   As a child, Jane enjoyed reading and playing with paper dolls that she and her first cousin Mildred cut out from pattern books.

She attended and graduated from the University of Alabama, where she majored in Library Science and was a Chi Omega sorority sister of Harper Lee.  While at UA, Jane met Jules Leonard Davis of Petrey Alabama on a blind date. They were married on June 13, 1948 and after working in Luverne, moved to Opp where they would live and raise their three sons: Joe Benton, Jules Edwin, and George Jeffrey.

After teaching, Jane worked as a cataloger for the Cross Trails Regional Library.   In Opp, Jane was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, and when she and Jules moved to Montgomery, they joined and faithfully attended Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church.  Her life exemplified a love of God, of family, and of friends.  Favorite pastimes included travel, bridge, reading her Bible, texting her friends and family, playing games on her iPad and rooting for the University of Alabama.

Survivors include her son, Joe Benton Davis and wife Sheila Everidge Davis of Montgomery; son, Jules Edwin Davis and wife Linda Bowman Davis, of New York City; grandchildren, Shannon Davis, Alison Davis, Kimberly Davis, Benjamin and Jacob Bowden; and great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Jules Horton, and Brittany Bowden.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Jules Leonard Davis, her son, George Jeffrey Davis, and parents Joe Benton and Mary Annie Morrow Benton.

Visitation will be conducted in Montgomery at Frazer Church in the Parlor from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.  Following visitation, a memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm in the Worship Center.  A graveside service will take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Opp City Cemetery under the direction of Wyatt Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Jane Benton Davis to Frazer Church for the SPIRIT Older Adult Ministry (6000 Atlanta Hwy., Montgomery, AL 36117) or to the charity of your choice.