Josephine (Lesher) Davidson

Mrs. Josephine (Jody, Joanne) A. Davidson (Lesher) passed away peacefully on 21 January after 82 years of life and a valiant battle with Corticobasal Syndrome.  She was surrounded by her family.  An amazing wife, mother, teacher, and fighter to the end of her physical life, she bravely battled the disease for four years before allowing it to take her body, but not her soul.  She said goodbye to her beloved husband Mr. Robert (Bob) O. Davidson Jr. who she was married to for over 59 years, and her three children, Lisa A. Thomason and husband Kelly of Lulling, Louisiana; Robert O. Davidson III and his wife Mary Sheilah of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Amy E. Brophy and her husband Patrick of Chicago, Illinois and five grandchildren, Evan, Nolan, Patricia, Colin, and Erin.

Jody started in a row home in Philadelphia with her father George Lesher, mother Christine, and brother George.  Her parents relocated to New Jersey when she was ten.  Her home was built on a farm lot that was a converted peach orchard, and she was known to climb the occasional tree and enjoy fresh peaches with her friends.  She adored her mother, Christine, who introduced her to finer delicacies of creamed spinach and rice pudding, her favorite foods, and how to appreciate the importance of daily laughter.  She had a smile that could light up a room.  Her early life honed her nurturing attitude, spirit of adventure, and tireless work ethic.  

A passionate student, Jody attended St. Mary’s of the Angels High School in New Jersey.  After high school, she was accepted into the elementary education program at Rutgers University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with Honors in 1962 and later receiving a Master degree from Georgia State University in 1990.  

Jody discovered early in life that she wanted to become a teacher and tenaciously pursued her passion to try to make the world a better place one child at a time.  After graduation, she taught at Medford Lakes Elementary in New Jersey, the first of a number of schools and children that she would guide throughout her 28 years of teaching, including Mount Laurel Elementary, Clairmont Elementary, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hooper Alexander Elementary, and Winona Park Elementary.  Throughout her career, she was known as a truly amazing teacher by her students and described as the best that they had ever had.

Jody was a faithful servant and devout catholic.  She attended St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Decatur, Georgia., St. Thomas More, Decatur, Georgia. The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta, Georgia and IHM, Hendersonville, North Carolina.  She gave often of her time and energy to worthwhile causes and embodied the very essence of what it meant to believe something bigger than herself.  She could often be found participating in weekly volunteer events or leading Christian formation classes.   

Jody was known as Darling, Grammy, and Nanny to the loves of her life; her grandchildren.   Early in their lives, she could often be found on the floor building Legos, jumping on the trampoline, or reading stories with great flourish.  As they grew older, she showed them how to live by example, cheering loudly at their graduations, walking with them during a fun run, stepping out on the ballroom floor for a waltz, or putting lake mud on top of her head during group bonding.  She always had a special way of communicating with her grandchildren that showed she cared, while meeting them where they were at in the world.

Jody loved spending time with friends at football tailgates, Saturday morning coffee, or church social events.  If she hadn’t heard from someone in a while, she would check-up on them, getting caught up on the latest news and how they were doing.  She was known to say, good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but they are always there.

Jody would call New Jersey and Georgia home, but would use any excuse to travel.  She visited all 50 states, the Bahamas, and Europe.  Later in life she moved to Hendersonville, North Caroline to enjoy mountain sunrises and sunsets.  

Rest in peace Mom.  You showed us how to smile, even if it took a while.  You taught us how to keep the pace, even if it wasn’t always a race.  You always made us feel like we were home and if we weren’t with you, you reminded us that we weren’t alone.  You graciously passed the love in your heart to all of us every day and your memory reminds us that it will never fade.

Relatives and friends will be invited to attend her celebration of Life at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta on June 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM.

Sanders Funeral Home.

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