Deborah Marie Jerome-Davis
June 27, 1951 – January 9, 2025

Deborah Marie Jerome-Davis was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, on June 27, 1951 to Conservative Baptist pastor Norman Basil Jerome (1912–1993) and his devoted wife and Christ-follower, Catherine Marie Hozey-Jerome (1921–2012). At the age of six, Deb prayed with her mother to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior and became a Christ-follower herself.

At her side when she entered Heaven’s gate were her husband of more than 40 years, Daniel Dean Davis (Dan), her daughter, Deanna Marie Davis-Lugo (1990), her son, Daniel James Ollie Davis (1993), and one of her two sisters, Darlene Edna Jerome (1954). Deb is also survived by her sister, Cynthia Dawn Jerome (Cindy, 1960).

When Deb’s mother married Norman, a widower, in 1950, he brought two sons into their marriage, both of whom preceded Deb in death: David Stephen Jerome (1940-1957) and Daniel Lee Jerome (Dan, 1946-1994; wife, Miriam). Deb delighted in sharing photos and memories she had of her half-brothers, and she cherished Dan and Miriam’s sons, Jason, Aaron, Ethan and Nathan and their families.

A dedicated and accomplished teacher, Deb earned her B.A. in Education from the Philadelphia College of Bible and her M.A. in Elementary Education from Temple University. Her career spanned teaching public and private elementary school students in Pennsauken, New Jersey and Arcata.

Deb and her brother, Dan, shared a close bond. When Dan and Miriam served as missionaries in Kofu, Japan, Deb joined them as a live-in tutor and teacher for their two oldest boys, Jason Lawrence Jerome (wife, Ruth) and Aaron Smith Jerome (wife, Jennie). She cherished their younger brothers, Ethan William Jerome (wife, Bethany) and Nathan Norman Jerome (wife, Vali). Later, Deb moved with Dan and Miriam to Okinawa, Japan, where she continued her passion for education by teaching elementary students at Okinawa Christian School.

As Providence would have it, Deb met a young Marine, Dan Davis, shortly after arriving on Okinawa and they were engaged within a year. Dan separated from the Marine Corps in August 1983 and returned to Humboldt County where his father’s family settled in 1948 and where he was born and raised, and Deb left the island about a year later after fulfilling her OCS commitment. They were married on July 21, 1984, at Doylestown First Baptist Church and settled in the McKinleyville-Arcata-Eureka area, near where Dan was born and raised.

While Dan returned to Humboldt State to complete his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, and after briefly substituting at a local public elementary school, Deb began teaching fourth graders at Arcata Christian School, continuing until Deanna’s birth on April 15, 1990. Their faith was deeply tested when Deanna was born with a life-threatening condition called TEF (tracheoesophageal fistula). They faced this challenge with prayer, the support of close friends, skilled medical professionals, and modern technology. With the help of their McKinleyville Baptist Church family, Deanna overcame those early struggles, an experience that ultimately strengthened Deb and Dan’s faith and their relationship.

In 1991, Dan was transferred from the community bank (Bank of Loleta) he had worked at in Eureka, since before they were married in 1984, to U.S. Bank in Portland, Oregon. They made their home there for the next 27 years. Their beloved son, Daniel, was born into the family on May 16, 1993. Deb homeschooled Deanna until Daniel entered kindergarten, when they both enrolled at Portland Christian School, Deanna graduating in 2008 and Daniel in 2011.

Deb and Dan found their Oregon faith family at Montavilla Baptist Church until about 2001, where Deb served as a teacher and a Women’s Retreat speaker and Dan served as a teacher and elder, among other roles. Deb would later serve as Women’s Ministry Coordinator and Dan as Men’s Ministry Coordinator and elder at Greater Gresham Baptist Church (now Pathway Church).

After 22 years in their SE Portland home, in 2018 Deb and Dan found a new home in nearby Columbia County and a new church family at Grace Baptist Church Warren. Deb settled in quickly, leading a home Bible Study with several Grace ladies and some of their friends from other churches. Dan took a little longer to find his way and then began attending Men’s Ministry events and activities like Men’s Bible Study, Men’s Breakfast and Man Camp. He would later volunteer to serve as Men’s Ministry Team Leader.

On April 20, 2022, Deb was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and began a journey that neither she nor Dan ever imagined for her, themselves or their family. Through invasive surgery and painful chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a few clinical trials, Deb’s joy and faith in God’s sovereignty over her life never wavered: “I am absolutely certain God will heal me, either miraculously this side of Heaven, or through my doctors’ hands, or as I die and pass into Heaven.”

In early 2023, after the cancer returned, Deb committed to reading through the Bible to highlight key verses for Deanna. She completed that read-through and markup on December 31, 2024, nine days before she would see her Savior face-to-face. In December 2024, after learning the cancer had spread to her heart and lungs, Deb made the difficult decision to accept hospice care. She used her remaining days to meet with her small group for a Christmas gift exchange, and several of her friends and family in person and in online meetings to say goodbye and share her faith. She called these “meaningful conversations.” Deb prayed especially for Bay Scholl, a young member of Grace Baptist Church, whom she adopted as a Prayer Buddy and met with twice.

On the afternoon of Thursday, January 9, 2025, Deb left us to meet her Heavenly Father. She will be remembered as a Godly, loving, and joyful Christ-follower and loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother and friend. She is already greatly missed by all who knew her.

You are invited to join the family to honor Deb at a graveside service at Greenwood Cemetery, Arcata, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Deb’s ashes will be interred there near the graves of Dan’s father and stepmother, Lawrence Corley Davis (1922–1995) and Mary Rowena Campbell-Davis (1929–2021); his paternal grandparents, James Albert Davis (1890–1959) and Ollie May Corley-Davis (1897–1969); and one of Lawrence’s two brothers, James Riley Davis (1930–1991).

In honor of Deb’s memory, those who wish to contribute are encouraged to support Voice of the Martyrs, a cause close to her heart, by visiting www.persecution.com. Your generosity will help support persecuted Christians worldwide.

Deb’s prayer for Dan, Deanna, Daniel and you is found in Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT):

May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Deb Jerome-Davis’ loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.