Ethel Louise Davis

Ethel Louise Davis was the ninth child born to John Robert Patten and Louise Blake Patten on October 11, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois.

She attended and graduated from Englewood High School then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Chicago State University. She dedicated 35 years of service to Chicago Public Schools, inspiring countless lives of students with learning and behavioral disabilities.

As a young adult, she married Johnny Davis and from that union came her greatest joy, the birth of her daughter, Tanesha Nicole. As a single mother, Ethel dedicated her life to providing a nurturing environment that allowed Tanesha to flourish as an adult and mother of her own children, Isaiah and Elijah. Collectively, Ethel called them her “three heartbeats”.

Ethel was a continuous learner and her devout faith in God propelled her to pursue higher education. She went on to achieve two master’s degrees from North Park Theological Seminary. The first was in Divinity Studies and the second in Christian Education. She dedicated her life to service in ministry at Community Covenant Church of Calumet Park for 30 plus years. Her contributions included Sunday School Superintendent, Vacation Bible School Director, New Members Ministry, and Director of Missions & Evangelism. She led two missions’ teams in Kingston, Jamaica with an objective of planting a new church and developing Vacation Bible School programming for children and teens in a remote village.

During the last several years of her life, God led her to Lighthouse Church of All Nations. She humbly submitted herself under the mission and vision of the church leadership and dedicated time in study through All Nations Leadership Institute (ANLI). She satisfied all requirements for both the elder and pastoral tracks. Ethel faithfully served with the Prayer Team, Ladies of the Light Women’s Ministry, and she also supported various outreach and evangelism events in the surrounding communities. Lastly, Ethel completed trips to both Israel and Greece for spiritual reflection and renewal. She truly loved her church family and felt the reciprocal impact from all those she encountered.

In the early evening of April 6, 2025, the gates of heaven opened, and God welcomed His daughter home. While her absence is heartfelt by many, we know that the Word of God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

Ethel‘s parents John Robert and Louise Patten preceded her in death. Sister Beverly Fields (Jerome) and Brothers Anthony, Charles, and Kenneth also preceded her in death.

Ethel’s memory and legacy lives through her loving daughter Tanesha Nicole and grandsons — Isaiah and Elijah, three sisters — Vivian Wilson, Patricia Hoskins (James), and Denise Danner — Brothers — John Robert and Daniel Patten and a host of loving nieces, nephews, God sisters in Christ— Rev. Queen O’Neal, Pastor Katherine J. Gethers, and Dinah Gonzales, and an abundance of loving friends, beautiful neighbors, and her Lighthouse Church of All Nations family.