Many are showing their love for Dr. J. Ester Davis, who is turning 80, this month. And why not? After all, for decades she has been a champion for the underdog, an advocate for all things noble and righteous.
A long-time concerned and active resident of Dallas, TX; she grew up in the Houston area with parents who taught her the value of education and service to others. Her father served in World War II and was a patriot, even though the family endured racial segregation and discrimination.
Her first job out of college was with the Eastman Kodak Company, and she worked in the New York and Texas markets for 24 years.
A graduate of Barbizon Modeling School, where she was also an instructor for two years, she started The Lace Glove Modeling and Etiquette Program for inner-city teens in Dallas.
As the host/producer of the Ester Davis Television Show, currently available on YouTube, she is dedicated to “encouraging positive activities for the sake of a better community.”
Also as a staff writer for the Dallas Post Tribune and other print and online publications, Dr. Davis has shared so many stories and addressed issues, giving a voice to the voiceless, or marginalized communities.
She earned a doctorate in religious studies in 2017 from Grace International Seminary in Dallas. Her deep faith in God and sincere Christianity have always been front and center in her public activities. Ester has served in many volunteer capacities, including Southwest Regional Director for the National Council of Negro Women.
She also served as chair of the Dallas Senior Affairs Commission under four different mayors and has received many honors from the City of Dallas for her ongoing service efforts.
Dr. Davis is known far and wide in Dallas for her compassionate activism, especially on behalf of young people. In 2017, she helped escort a contingent of about 150 inner-city youth to Washington, DC, on a bus tour, for many of these youth had never been outside the city of Dallas.
Her hobbies include playing the piano and riding a vintage bicycle around her Oak Cliff neighborhood, where she has lived for more than 30 years. She is a faithful attendee at the Greater New Zion Baptist Church and has played piano for services.
She’s the widow of a Korean War veteran, a mother, and a grandmother.
