Mourners remember the life and legacy of Bettye Davis

Updated: December 11, 2018 Published: December 11, 2018

Former state Sen. Georgianna Lincoln, right, who served in the Alaska Legislature with Bettye Davis, called her "my sister" and recalled that "we bonded Day 1 in Juneau." Hundreds of people honored Davis' life and legacy during a funeral service at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The life and legacy of Bettye Davis was honored during a funeral service at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, of which she was a member for over 45 years, on Monday.

Among her many accomplishments during decades of public service, Davis served as chair of the State Board of Education and Early Development, and served on the Anchorage School Board in the 1980s and 1990s. She was the first black woman to be elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1990 and the first African-American to serve in the Alaska state Senate in 2000.

She died surrounded by family at her home on Dec. 2, according to her obituary. She was 80 years old.

Davis will be interred next to her husband, Tony Davis, at Friendship Cemetery in Bernice, Louisiana.