Ivy's Life

Ivolyn "Ivy" Edna Parker Davidson, age 78, lived in Orlando, Florida. She passed away on Thursday, August 4th, 2016 at 6:04 AM while recovering from a lengthy illness. She died of heart failure, during hospital rehabilitation, in the early morning hours as she was sleeping peacefully.

Ivy was born on Saturday, May 7, 1938 at 10:30 AM in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the 6th of 7 children born to Ivory Lee Parker and Edna Viola Johnson Parker. Ivy had 2 brothers and 4 sisters: David, Olive, Elma, Phyllis, Nolya and Robert.

Ivy was married on Friday, May 10, 1957 to John MacWard Davidson, "Dimples", in Baltimore Maryland.

Ivy is survived by 4 of her 5 children:

Jolyn Davidson Marlatt and husband Craig Marlatt
John Lee Davidson and wife Barbara Cook Davidson
Jennifer Davidson Sison and husband Robert Sison
Jeneice Davidson Mozisek and husband Douglas Mozisek

Ivy had 8 Grandchildren:

Daniel Marlatt, Julia Marlatt Martinez, Kristy Marlatt Smoot, Jonathan Marlatt, Jacob Davidson, Jessica Sison Peterson, Joslin Sison, and Tony Mozisek

Ivy had 12 Great Grandchildren:

Elian Martinez, Adriel Martinez, Paris Martinez, Javon Marlatt, Cedrick Marlatt, Damion Marlatt, Kyla Smoot, Keithen Smoot, Zarah Smoot (deceased), Zailee Davidson, Dominic Davidson, and Rose Marlatt with one more due in February 2017
Ivolyn's Early Life:

Even as a young girl, music played a major role in Ivy's life. On Saturdays Ivy and her 2 sisters Elma and Phyllis would sing live on Baltimore radio station WCBM. They regularly appeared on several local television shows in Baltimore. Shows like: 'The Hugh's Hour', 'You Said It', 'The Eskimo Club', and 'High Time'. They also sang for the USO, Military and Government programs, churches and social organizations like Elks, Moose and Shriner's.

Ivy excelled in school. From 1953-1956, she was involved with Hi-Y and Tri Hi-Y, school theatre groups, choir, and Future Teachers of America. She was Secretary of the Students Association and of her graduating class. Ivy received the prestigious Arion Music Award for the state of Maryland. This was awarded to junior and senior class members chosen by their school for outstanding achievement in band, orchestra or chorus. She also received a Senatorial Scholarship to the Peabody Institute.

Although Ivy sang professionally with 'The Parker Sisters' during most of her school years, it was while working for the Martin company in Baltimore that she met her husband to be John "Dimples" Davidson and, as Ivy often said, instantly fell in love.

During that same time Ivy received a call to audition for 'The DeMarco Sisters' and quickly rushed off to New York for the audition. Other singers from groups like 'The Chordettes', 'The McGuire Sisters' and the 'Pied Pipers' were also invited to audition for the same job as a fifth member of 'The DeMarco Sisters'. During the auditions, Ivy received a call from Gloria DeMarco who let her know that she had been chosen to join the group. She quickly returned to Baltimore, packed her things, and the following morning she took the train to New Jersey to begin singing with 'The DeMarco Sisters'. John was supposed to meet her at the train but had an auto accident and never made it. After she arrived in New Jersey, the DeMarco's whisked her off at midnight to a salon to have her hair cut and dyed black. Around 3 AM it was off to New York to buy gowns, shoes, and jewelry, from Macy's and Sears, for the new gig with the DeMarco's. Later that same day they were in studio learning choreography and music for 20 different songs in five-part harmony. It was a seven-day crash course before taking the stage with 'The DeMarco sisters'. The world-renowned Guy Lombardo also heard Ivy singing at that time and offered her a job singing with his orchestra as a songstress but Ivy did not take him up on the offer. There were other opportunities coming in for possible leads and dancing contracts at that time.

While singing at the Chantilly Club, John and 2 other suitors showed up. Ivy had an interesting time keeping them separated at different tables but her heart was drawn to John, and on May 10, 1957 at 7 PM they had a candlelight wedding ceremony and their journey together began.

Their love for each other was more important than their ambitions. They joined their lives together, "Because some lives have to be shared and enjoyed as only two people truly in love can do." Letter from John, March 3,1957

Their Family

Ivy and John Davidson began their married life living in Dundalk, Maryland. Neither of them wanted to live in Baltimore so they moved to Orlando and bought a home on Drexel Avenue.

Their 1st child, Jolyn Marie, was born on Wednesday, July 16, 1958 in Orlando, FL at Orange Memorial Hospital. John was also a licensed pilot and when Jolyn was just 3 months old John flew his new family to Baltimore for a visit with the relatives.

One year later on Saturday, September 5, 1959 their 2nd child John Lee was born in Orlando, FL at Orange Memorial Hospital. John's father had always said that they would have a son with blue eyes and would have to name him John. At a very young age John Junior learned to say 'please' and 'thank you' and the family members thought it was so adorable and would always ask him to say it.


In 1960 their 3rd child, Jeff Holland, was an unexpected tubal pregnancy. Though they were not able to enjoy him here on earth, they are delighting in their eternal reunion together in Heaven now!

On Saturday, September 23, 1961, Jennifer Gail was born in Baltimore, MD at John Hopkins Medical Center Women's Division. Ivy had summoned to court to speak on behalf of her father and, due to unexpected complications, she could not return home before giving birth. All where very surprised she was born with birth defects to her right foot and leg. However, God has used this for His glory both medically and spiritually. Her many surgeries both as a young child and later in life would help doctors develop new surgical methods that have since been used worldwide to save limbs and expand medical knowledge in this area.

"Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." John 9:3

Last but not least (depending on who you ask) on Monday, February 23, 1970 Jeneice Diane was born in Orlando, FL at Orange Memorial Hospital. Little Johnny was hoping for a brother and upon learning it was ANOTHER SISTER he ran into the bathroom at the Royal Castle restaurant and cried. However, as the years rolled along, Jeneice excelled in sports like football, baseball, basketball, and anything but dolls, lace or feminine frills. As John put it "Johnny got a brother; the plumbing was just different." They both bled Orange and Blue…Chomp, Chomp!

Miscellaneous Information

Places Ivy worked:

Martian Company, Cherry Plaza, Mr. Dounut, Ronnies, Showalter Flying Service, McDonalds, and a substitute teacher for challenged kids

Singing Groups Ivy participated in:

The Parker Sisters
The DeMarco Sisters
The Harmonettes
The Davidson Family
Various Church Choirs
Wade n Ivy
Ray and Ivy

Acknowledgments

Ivolyn Edna Parker Davidson accomplished many things for a woman of her time. Her greatest experience happened at an Oliver B. Green evangelistic tent meeting in Orlando, Florida. He spoke on the topic: What must I give up to follow Jesus? On that day Ivy surrendered her ambitions and accomplishments and laid them at the foot of the cross. Both John and Ivy raised their children with the truth of the love of Jesus and the salvation He has provided for all on the Cross of Calvary.

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the family continues to live out a legacy of free-will faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This legacy has continued from generation to generation, past, present, and future.

PRAISE GOD!

"It is finished" John 19:30