Constance Bessell Davidson, age 86, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday March 14, 2024 at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital.
Constance “Connie” was born in Paris on Nov. 6, 1937 to a loving military family including a mother who waited for many years to have a precious daughter. As an army brat, Connie grew up as an only child on the grounds of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She attended West Point Post School, Highland Falls High School and Marymount College, earning her bachelor’s degree with a major in Spanish and minor in Education.
Constance Davidson, 84, passed away March 14.
Connie was anchored throughout her life by her strong Catholic faith, and modeled across her lifetime what it means to be a passionate and strong believer who puts others first. She was an incredibly resilient person and never complained about any adverse circumstances in her life. Connie lived in so many wonderful places which fostered her opportunity to have so many incredible friends all around the world.
Connie moved many times to many states alongside her devoted husband, Tom, and resided in numerous homes, from Durham, North Carolina; Brooklyn, New York; South Orange, New Jersey; Amarillo, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Chevy Chase and Potomac, Maryland; Darien, Connecticut; and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, among others, each time making every house a welcoming, beautiful home full of love and kindness for their four, adoring children. Connie’s home was a place where everyone felt welcomed, encouraged and loved.
She cherished being an active part of each of her children’s schools, classes and activities, including serving on the Parent-Teacher Association Board and as a Girl Scout leader, and hosting elaborate theme parties for every birthday and celebration. Connie also loved planning and hosting high school reunions, with precious friends, many times over the years.
Connie’s love for collections was known and admired by all. Most impressive was her incredible collection of frogs, which she kept in a prominent location at home she liked to call Toad Hall.
From the special first frog ever given to her by her husband, Tom, it seemed that any time anyone saw a frog it was sent to Connie and brought her so much joy. With so many friends, the amazing frogs soon took over the entire house and surely became one of the largest collections in the world.
Connie had a wonderfully fun and playful sense of humor and loved discovering and sharing silly quotes, jokes and sayings. She thought it would be appropriate and amusing for the family to tell everyone that she “croaked” when it came time for her to be with God in Heaven.
Connie was also very creative and artistic and had innumerable special attributes and talents, and enjoyed sewing detailed needlepoint designs which decorated the family home, and creating treasured art projects with her grandchildren.
Connie was a steadfast friend to people from all walks of life. She went out of her way to show people that their work mattered. Connie would often stop someone to tell them how their work was making someone’s life easier or more enjoyable. She made people realize or revisit the most beautiful and important parts of themselves. Connie never forgot to acknowledge a friend or family member’s birthday, anniversary, celebration, or other important life events.
She kept in close touch with the special people in her life without the use of a smart phone, instead wanting to communicate in person and in real time, and by writing special letters and cards. She delighted in personally selecting just the perfect card to mail to her loved one for each occasion. Connie made it her successful mission in life to make everyone feel special and important.
Details for a celebration of life in honor of Connie will be announced in the coming weeks.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine Mary Hanratta Bessell and Brigadier General William Weston Bessell, Jr., and will be indescribably missed by her husband of 64 years, Thomas Marshall Davidson, and her beloved family who lovingly called her “Grandy”; her children: Margaret (Peggy) Katherine Davidson Higgins (Jeff Higgins), Elizabeth Weston Davidson Carroll (Vincent Randolph Carroll), Amy Marshall Davidson Bryant (Marc Bryant), and Thomas Marshall Davidson, Jr. (Elissa Canlas Davidson); her grandchildren, Cassidy Holt Higgins Taylor (Sean Taylor), Cole Weston Higgins (Christina Higgins), Paxton Tierney Higgins, Troy Markham Higgins, Charles Randolph Carroll (Katie Carroll), Joseph Ward Carroll (Nicole Carroll), Randolph Rinehart Carroll (Ariel Carroll), Chase Riggs Carroll (Kristina Carroll), Christopher Kyle Bryant, William Weston Bryant, Kendall Elizabeth Bryant, Garrison Marshall Davidson, Weston Canlas Davidson, Wagner Katherine Davidson, and John (Jack) Marshall Davidson; five great-grandchildren; and many beloved friends whom she loved and cared for as family members.
We will be making a book of all the wonderful memories of Connie and the family invites all who loved Connie to share special memories of her by sending any notes via email to DavidsonFamilyMessages@gmail.com or online at the Davis-Watkins Funeral Home website.
Connie also gave her heart to caring for her cherished animals over the years. In lieu of flowers, Connie’s family would welcome donations in Connie’s honor to Alaqua Animal Refuge or the charity of your choice.
— an obituary from Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, where online condolences may be left