An American Story Told
"Davis provides, without a doubt, significant information and details about who he is, not merely as a public figure but, perhaps more important, as a private man who is pastor, teacher, son, husband, father, and grandfather. Significantly, in the process he reminds us of where he came from. A candid portrait of an individual who is most complex, committed and spiritual. A compelling, moving, painful, and in the end, celebratory life. The book's strength is that it is well-written."Utah Historical Quarterly "A story worth telling."Salt Lake City Weekly
Rev. France A. Davis is pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City. Nayra Atiya was born in Egypt, raised in the United States, and now lives in Salt Lake City. She is an oral historian, writer, and translator. This is her sixth book.
1. I Am Born and Later Burned 2. The Coopers and Cooper's Town 3. The Good Book and Our Goodly Heritage 4. Magazines, Books, and Stories 5. Lifelong Student 6. Calvary's Saturday School 7. Schools and Teachers 8. Two Institutions 9. What Mom and Dad Expected of Their Children 10. Death 11. Educational Opportunities 12. Church Homes 13. I Am Off to Tuskegee 14. Florida and the Call to Preach 15. Common Sense and Honoring Personal Needs 16. A Full-Time Obligation with My Family's Arms Around Me 17. A Good Name 18. Mrs. E. Louise DeBies 19. Destiny 20. The Visable Church 21. Sermons 22. The Pastor and His Family 23. Willene, Pastor's Wife 24. The Military and Elsewhere 25. A Student and His Ministry 26. Installation 27. Glass House 28. Time and Tasks 29. Ministers 30. Lessons 31. Basic Training 32. Texas 33. Las Vegas, Nevada 34. Southeast Asia 35. Dreaming and Sharing 36. Some Siblings and Our Old House 37. Educate the Head and the Heart 38. A Minister's Reputation 39. Sharecropping Neighbors 40. Responsibilities and Roles 41. Crafts 42. Mom 43. Dad 44. The Fruits of Summer 45. Body and the Soul 46. Born Again 47. It Takes a Village 48. Neighbors and Mutual-Aid Societies 49. The Little Store 50. Andrew Cooper and Family 51. Games 52. Money 53. Let Your Word Be Your Bond 54. Aunt Rena, Folklore, and Home Remedies 55. Medical Care 56. Peddlers and Storekeepers 57. Goldberg's 58. Company 59. Be Still, God Is at Work 60. Medicine for the Soul 61. Home 62. Burns: My Side of the Story 63. Burns: Willene's Side of the Story 64. Utah 65. Going Somewhere! Acknowledgements About Nayra Atiya