On May 28, 1838, Tinsley Davis purchased 640 acres in Shelby County, TN while still living in Limestone Co., AL.  He packed up his entire family and moved to Shelby Co. On the death of his son John Hector Davis in 1839 he designated an acre on a rise surrounded by tall trees for a family burial ground. Over the course of the next 90 years at least 67 family members and their relatives were buried there.  The last burial in 1929 was a grandson, also named John Hector Davis.  The 640 acres purchased by Tinsley Davis are bordered by Shelby Dr. on the north, Holmes Rd. on the south, Tchulahoma on the west, and Getwell on the east.

The visible traces of the cemetery are gone, swallowed in the midst of a subdivision in Whitehaven.  Shelby Co recorded a few remaining stones in the early 1970s and even those do not remain.  However, in the nineteen fifties and sixties, Mrs. William Leigh (Doris Mai Davis) Meux, a gg granddaughter of Tinsley Davis, researched and recorded the individuals buried there.  Mrs. Meux's kinsman David Ragland Davis furnished her research to the typist Jean Rawlings Meaney, ggg granddaughter of Tinsley Davis. Some of the relationship notes were added by the typist for clarification.  The quotes from Robert Bruce Bowe were taken from works compiled by David R. Davis and Doris Davis Meux.

As a tribute to the work of Doris D. Meux and to those buried in the cemetery, we publish the following Online Cemetery:
Gravestone Inscriptions from Shelby County Tennessee Cemeteries Vol. III, pp. 74-78, published in 1995,  also contains this list (with slight variations) furnished by Doris Davis Meux.  The Tennessee Genealogical Society has graciously allowed us to publish this information to the Internet.  (Where needed, the typist has clarified relationships and added a few notes.).
Please note that Tennessee Genealogical Society has Gravestone Inscriptions from Shelby County Tennessee Cemeteries Volumes I, II, and III for sale. Write to Tennessee Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 247, Brunswick, Tennessee 38014 or go to website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~tngs/   At the website, go to Library, and click "Publications for sale". The order form may be copied from this site.
Instructions for finding the cemetery are included at the end of this list.

John Hector Davis * (first burial in the cemetery)
b. Aug. 28, 1825 Limestone Co., AL
d. 1839 Shelby Co., TN
Son of Tinsley Davis and Elvira Cross Davis (wife #2)

Tinsley Davis
b. 1774 Hanover Co., VA
d. Feb. 23, 1850 (1850 Federal Census says Feb. 1) Shelby Co., TN "of pleurisy"
Pater Familias; Son of John Dabney Davis, a VA Rev. war soldier and DAR Patriot and his wife and second cousin Anne Ragland (Tinsley) Davis.  Moved to Fayette Co., KY and then in 1817 to Limestone Co., AL along with other family members.
Tinsley married three times.  1) Frances Bowe Ragland, 2) Elvira Cross, 3) Virginia Emily Key.
"Wrote down the names, dates and hour of birth of each of his 14 children in the flyleaf of a book of poetry by Sir Walter Scott."  Doris Davis Meux
"Memphis grows rapidly is soon destined to be a large city.  About three miles out south of Memphis the Central Jockey Club Race track was opened more than 100 fine racehorses have been stationed there.  Tinsley Davis had a race horse stable. Willy Wiley and Tom Breckenridge, old Kentuck turf men, friends of 1/4 century ago are visiting us."
Nathaniel Bowe Davis (Tinsley's cousin) to his lawyer son Nathaniel Hart Davis in Montgomery, Texas
"Forks of Horn Lake Creek DeSoto Co., Miss. Nov. 25, 1842
"Tinsley Davis was a sober man till 38 or 40 years old, then commenced drinking and died years afterwards a very hard drinker.  So I was informed this 2nd Oct. 1892 by Felix Davis."  Robert Bruce Bowe
Tinsley died intestate leaving a large estate.

Rebecca Bowe Ragland
b. Abt. 1768 Hanover Co., VA
d. Aug. 18, 1842 DeSoto Co., MS
Wife of Beverl(e)y Ragland of Louisa Co., VA; mother-in-law of Tinsley Davis through first wife Frances Bowe Ragland.  Frances died in Limestone Co., AL in 1822.  Great-aunt of Robert Bruce Bowe.

Lycurgus Davis
b. May 20, 1817 Fayette Co., KY
d. April 1862 Shelby Co., TN
Unmarried son of Tinsley Davis and his cousin Frances Bowe (Ragland) Davis (wife #1)
"Lycurgus Davis was a great curiousity. Slept with his head to the north for health; kept room full of dogs for fun.  Was kind goodhearted man and loved his kin. Was well off and lived easy.  He lived and died on the same place where his father lived and died."  Robert Bruce Bowe

Robert Ruffin Davis
b. Aug. 23, 1819 Limestone Co., AL
d. April 16, 1885 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Tinsley Davis and his first wife and cousin Frances Bowe Ragland; husband of Antoinette Blackburn Clarke.

Antoinette Blackburn Clarke Davis
b. Sept. 6, 1822 Madison Co., AL
d. Feb. 2, 1914 DeSoto Co., MS
Wife of Robert R. Davis; dau. of Sarah Blackburn and William Clarke.
Picture of Antoinette Blackbourne Clarke Davis at age 90 in about 1912. Last Will and Testament.

Edward Bressie Davis
b. Aug. 6, 1847 Shelby Co., TN
d. Mar. 1915 DeSoto Co., MS
Unmarried son of Robert R. Davis and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis

Unnamed infant Davis
b. 1848
d. 1848
Child of Robert R. and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis

Frances Maria Davis Elam
b. Sept 6, 1850 Shelby Co., TN
d. Aug. 24, 1890 Shelby Co., TN in childbirth (breech delivery of twins)
Daughter of Robert R. and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis; second wife of Emmett Eugene Elam.  She died leaving two children under the age of four, Emmett and Edith.
She was a schoolteacher before she married; "a very smart woman." Robert Bruce Bowe
Her picture, maybe about time of her marriage, age 32 (1882).

Mary Estelle "Molly"  Davis
b. Jan. 19, 1854 Shelby Co, TN
d. April 20. 1919 DeSoto Co., MS
Unmarried daughter of Robert R. and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis

Eugenia Davis
b. 1856
d. Early childhood
Daughter of Robert R. and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis

Beverly Samuel Davis
b. Aug. 13, 1821 Limestone Co., AL
d. April 2, 1878 DeSoto Co, MS
Son of Tinsley Davis and Frances (Ragland) Davis and husband of his first cousin once removed Mary Elizabeth Davis.

Beverly Fleming Davis
b. 1856 DeSoto Co.
d. April 8, 1878 DeSoto Co., MS
Unmarried son of Beverly Samuel and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Davis

Stephen Davis
b. Feb. 23, 1854 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Feb. 26, 1905 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Beverly Samuel and Mary E. (Davis) Davis

Martha Davis Glanville
b. ?  Forest, Scott Co., MS
d. 1910 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Dr. Stephen and Harriet M. (Hogan) Davis;  wife of Col. James Glanville

Nathaniel Bowe Davis
b. April 1870
d. Nov. 19, 1903
Son of Beverly Samuel and Mary E. (Davis) Davis

John Hector Davis  * (last burial in the cemetery)
b. April 8, 1864 DeSoto Co., MS
d. March 23, 1929 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Beverly S. and Mary Elizabeth Davis and husband of 1) Cornelia Anderson and 2) Mary Anderson and 3)Maude Atkinson.
John Hector Davis, his wife Cornelia (Anderson) Davis and maybe their little daughter Lula Rembert Davis.

Footstone marked "J.A.D."   Could this be J.H.D. for John Hector Davis and go with the headstone and footstone for his wife Cornelia Anderson Davis?

Cornelia Anderson Davis
b. ?  Beaumont, TX
d. Nov. 7, 1899 DeSoto Co., MS
First wife of John Hector Davis
John Hector Davis, his wife Cornelia (Anderson) Davis and maybe their little daughter Lula Rembert Davis.

Footstone marked "C.A.D."  Cornelia Anderson Davis ?

Lula Rembert Davis
b. 1890 DeSoto Co., MS
d. 1891 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of John Hector and Cornelia Davis
John Hector Davis, his wife Cornelia (Anderson) Davis and maybe their little daughter Lula Rembert Davis.

John Hector Davis III
b. ?
d. 1896 DeSoto Co., MS
Infant son of John Hector and Cornelia Davis

Mary Anderson Davis
b. ? Beaumont, TX
d. June 6, 1904 DeSoto Co., MS
Second wife of John Hector Davis and sister of his first wife Cornelia

Virginia Emily Key Davis (Emily Virginia Key Davis)
b. ? VA
d. 1846  Shelby Co.
Third wife of Tinsley Davis and sister-in-law of his daughter Maria Ann Ragland Davis whose first husband was William T. Key
Also called Emily V. Key Davis in Limestone Co., AL Court Records.

Watson Dabney Davis
b. April 5, 1833 Limestone Co., AL
d. Feb. 23, 1902
Son of Tinsley Davis and Virginia Emily (Key) Davis (wife #3); husband of Maria Ann Clarke. His picture taken around 1890.
Watson lost his wife and two sons in the Yellow Fever Epidemic of Fall, 1878 (see note at end of document).  Watt and Maria Ann had nine children, only 2 survived to adulthood. Seven are buried here.  He remarried and had four more children, 3 survived to adulthood.

Maria Ann Clarke Davis
b. June 20, 1833 Limestone Co., AL
d. Sept. 26, 1878 DeSoto Co., MS of yellow fever
Wife of Watson D. Davis and sister of Antoinette Blackburn (Clarke) Davis and Mary Lewis (Clarke) McCargo.

Willie Tinsley Davis
b. Aug. 9, 1858 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Oct. 21, 1878 DeSoto Co., MS of yellow fever
Son of Watson D. Davis and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Walter Eumenes Davis
b. March 22, 1857 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Dec. 18, 1881  DeSoto Co., MS
Unmarried son of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Mary Virginia Davis
b. Nov. 17, 1859
d. Dec. 20, 1866
Daughter of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Eugene Morgan Davis
b. Feb. 4, 1864 DeSotoCo., MS
d. Oct. 5, 1878 DeSoto Co., MS of yellow fever
Son of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke)Davis

Alice Maude Davis
b. April 27, 1865 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Jan. 24, 1882 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Edward Hugh Davis
b. April 23, 1868 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Mar. 9, 1869 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Earnest Plunket Davis
b. April 19, 1870 DeSoto Co., MS
d. July 12, 1877 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Watson D. and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis

Herbert Baldwin Davis
b, March 11, 1883 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Jan. 10, 1885 DeSoto Co., MS
Son of Watson D. and his second wife Sarah E. Baldwin.

Cornelia Davis
b. Oct. 3, 1839 Shelby Co.
d. ? early childhood
Daughter of Tinsley Davis and Virginia Emily (Key) Davis

Laura Emily Davis
b. 1835 Limestone Co., AL
d. ? early childhood
Daughter of Tinsley Davis and Virginia Emily (Key) Davis

Angelina Harriett Davis Edmondson
b. April 2, 1837 Limestone Co., AL
d. Oct. 1878 DeSoto Co., MS of yellow fever
Daughter of Tinsley Davis and Virginia Emily (Key) Davis; wife of Eumenes  A. Edmondson

Hugh Davis
b. Oct. 25, 1845 Shelby Co., TN
d. Oct. 1878 DeSoto Co., MS of yellow fever
Unmarried son of Tinsley Davis and Virginia Emily (Key) Davis

Pearl Granberry Davis
b. Aug. 1, 1867 Shelby Co., TN
d. Dec. 14, 1893 DeSoto Co., MS
First wife of Robert Sidney Davis, son of Robert R. Davis and Antoinette Clarke Davis.

Sebie Antoinette Davis
b, Nov. 18, 1891 DeSoto Co., MS
d. April 11, 1902 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Robert Sidney Davis and Pearl (Granberry) Davis; playmate and cousin of Frances Davis Elam's daughter Edith.

E. Davis and F. Davis (two stones)
b. Aug. 15, 1871 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Oct. 6 , 1872  DeSoto Co., MS
Twin sons of F. & M. Davis (Could this be Felix and Mary Matlock Davis?)

Nathaniel Bowe Davis
b. June 19, 1784 Goochland Co., VA
d. Nov. 8, 1857 DeSoto Co., MS
First cousin of Tinsley Davis;  son of Stephen Davis and Elizabeth Bowe.
Soldier of the War of 1812

Martha Davis Bowe Davis, "Pretty Polly"
b. May 16, 1791 Hanover Co., VA
d. May 2, 1872   DeSoto Co, MS
Wife of Nathaniel Bowe Davis. and niece of Tinsley Davis

Felix Davis
b. April 25, 1823 Madison Co., AL
d. Aug. 17, 1895 DeSoto Co.,. MS
Son of Nathaniel Bowe Davis and Martha Davis (Bowe) Davis

Martha Davis Burke
b. April 17, 1825
d. March 14, 1881 of yellow fever
Daughter of Nathaniel B. Davis and Martha Davis Bowe Davis.  Wife of John Alexander Burke.

Cornelia Davis
b. Feb. 12, 1833 Madison Co., AL
d. June 20, 1856 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Nathaniel B. and Martha Davis (Bowe) Davis

Mary Elizabeth Davis Davis
b. March 9, 1831 Madison Co, AL
d. March 4, 1882 DeSoto Co., AL
Daughter of Nathaniel B. and Martha Davis (Bowe) Davis.  Wife of her cousin Beverly Samuel Davis.

Andy Bell Bowe
b. Jan. 8, 1872
d. Dec. 3, 1887 killed while hunting birds by Jasper Bass.
"Dear brave boy, should there be a hereafter may we meet and rest."
Footstone marked "ABB."
Son of Robert Bruce Bowe and Malvina (McCargo) Bowe. (They are buried in DeSoto Co., MS. Check out their tombstone inscriptions at:    http://www.rootsweb.com/~msdesoto/bios/bowerb.html )

Robert McCargo Bowe
b. Sept. 29, 1867
d. Aug. 9, 1890
"In life beloved; in death lamented."
Unmarried son of Robert Bruce Bowe and Malvina (McCargo) Bowe.  (They are buried in DeSoto Co., MS.)

Robert Granberry Bowe
b. Jan. 26, 1895
d. May 20, 1896
"Our loved one"
Footstone: RGB
Son of Robert Bruce Bowe's son Hector and Seabie Allie Granberry Bowe.

See http://hometown.aol.com/romeocrying/page2.html for a picture Dec. 1895 or Jan. 1896 of Robert Bruce Bowe and his wife, children and grandchildren including Robert Granberry Bowe.
From left to right...Nathaniel Woodson Bowe (seated), Walter Bowe(standing), Robert Bruce Bowe(seated, bearded, holding baby), Annie Augusta Bowe, (infant in Robert's lap), Bright Bowe(standing behind Robert), Hector Bowe (standing), Allie Granberry Bowe(seated holding baby), Robert Granberry Bowe (infant in Allie's lap), Bruce Bowe(standing), Ursula "Sula" Bowe(seated),Emmye Bowe (seated),Dr Milstead (standing), Ed Lee Bowe(standing), Malvina McCargo(seated holding bible), Alice "Allie" Bowe.

Sarah Blackburn Clarke
b. 1797 Mecklenburg Co., VA
d. 1860 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Clement Blackburn (Blackbourne) and Mary Lewis.  Mother of Antoinette Blackburn Clarke Davis, Mary Lewis Clarke McCargo, Maria Ann Clarke Davis.  Wife of William Robert Clarke.

William Robert Clarke
b. 1792 Mecklenburg Co., VA
d. Dec. 9, 1875? DeSoto Co., MS
Father of Antoinette Blackburn Clarke Davis, Maria Ann Clarke Davis, Mary Lewis Clarke McCargo.

Dr. William George Lester
b. May 21, 1848 Shelby Co., TN
d. July 28, 1886 DeSoto Co., MS of flux at 4:25 PM
Son-in-law of Robert R. and Antoinette (Clarke) Davis. Husband of Savella Antoinette Davis.
"He was the best man I ever knew." Robert Bruce Bowe

Eugenia Wood Lester, "Lady Love"
b. April 20, 1888
d. Aug. 7, 1907
Unmarried daughter of Dr. William and Savella (Davis) Lester

Anne Courtney Lester
b. Oct. 12, 1881 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Nov. 20, 1885 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Dr. William George and Savella (Davis) Lester

Pearl Lester
b. Mar. 1883 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Aug. 1886 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Dr. William George and Savella (Davis) Lester

Robert Stephen Lester
b. Aug 1884 DeSoto Co., MS
d. 11 days old
Infant son of Dr. William George and Savella (Davis) Lester

Unnamed Son Lester
b. Sept. 1886 DeSoto Co., MS
d. Sept 1886 DeSoto Co., MS
Infant son of Dr. William George and Savella (Davis) Lester

Mary Lewis Clarke McCargo
b. Aug 10, 1825 Limestone Co., AL
d. Nov. 30, 1893 DeSoto Co., MS, upstairs in the house of Robert Bruce and Malvina Bowe
Wife of Robert F. McCargo; daughter of William and Sarah (Blackburn) Clark; mother of Malvina McCargo Bowe.
sister of Antoinette Clarke Davis and Maria Ann (Clarke) Davis.
Loose footstone M. L McC.

William R. McCargo
b. May 17, 1849 Limestone Co., AL
d. Oct. 21, 1889 DeSoto Co., MS
"May he rest in peace."
Son of Robert F. McCargo and Mary Lewis Clarke McCargo.  Robert F. McCargo died in 1854 in Limestone Co., AL.

Anthony Winston Pettus
b. June 20, 1810
d. July 1851 (while on a trip to Iowa)
Second husband of Maria Ann Ragland Davis and son-in-law of Tinsley Davis

Maria Ann Ragland (Davis) (Key) Pettus
b. Feb. 23, 1814 Fayette Co., KY
d. Jan. 1888 DeSoto Co., MS
Daughter of Tinsley Davis and wife of Anthony Winston Pettus.
"Mrs. Pettus was thrown from her horse when about grown and had her leg broken and walked with a crutch and stick all her life.  She was a most excellent woman and everyone loved her."  Robert Bruce Bowe

Sallie Watson Pettus
b. Dec. 10, 1843 Mobile, AL
d. July 26, 1855 Shelby Co., TN
Daughter of Anthony and Maria (Davis) Pettus, granddaughter of Tinsley Davis.

William Sampson Mayfield
b. 1845 Limestone Co., AL
d. Oct. 1885 DeSoto Co., MS
Husband of Harriet Estelle (Pettus) Mayfield; son-in-law of Maria Ann Ragland Davis Pettus and Anthony Winston Pettus.

Pettus Mayfield
b. 1871
d. 1871
Infant son of William Sampson and Harriet Estelle (Pettus) Mayfield

Maria Pettus Mayfield
b. 1873
d. Oct. 1885
Daughter of William Sampson and Harriet Estelle (Pettus) Mayfield

Walter Tinsley Ricks
b. Jan. 16, 1889
d. May 1889
Son of George Thomas. and Frances Tinsley (Davis) Ricks.  Grandson of Beverly Samuel and Mary E. (Davis) Davis

George Albert Davis
b. ?
d. ?
Infant son of Beverly Stephen and Fannie (Bussey) Davis
 

Note from the typist:
Robert Bruce Bowe wrote about the Yellow Fever victims of 1878:
"(Hugh Davis) died in the fall of 1878 of yellow fever.  I had his grave dug and helped bury him, also Mrs. Edmondson (Angelina Harriett, daughter of Tinsley Davis), Watt's wife (Maria Ann Clarke Davis) and 2 children (Eugene Morgan Davis and Willie Tinsley Davis) and 2 Mrs. Bridgeforths.  At that time the whole neighborhood was panic-stricken.  I had two Negro men hired that year for wages, so would take them and dig the graves and let the mourners dump them in almost like hogs---most men were afraid to come too near or to shake hands with those mourning."

Directions to the Tinsley Davis Cemetery in Whitehaven, TN from Gravestone Inscriptions of Shelby Co, Vol III
"Visited July 3, 1976. Only a few stones were located on the east side of Tchulahoma Rd., 0.7 mi south of Shelby Dr. inside a newly developed subdivision. ...the immediate area has no houses, is on top of a high spot with three large trees, on Cloudland Dr. 0.2 mi east of intersection with Morningview Dr. Entrance to the subdivision is just south of this place, onto Morning Wind Dr."

Directions to Tinsley Davis Cemetery, Melodywood  Avenue, Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, provided by David R. Davis, Jan.  2005.
From Shelby Drive, turn south on Tchulahoma Road and go .4 mile to  Melodywood Avenue.  Turn left on Melodywood and go .2 mile to an open-lot  entrance to a field behind the houses. This entrance is between 3377 and 3391  Melodywood.  No gravestones are apparent in the large, open field, and there  is no identification that this is the Tinsley Davis Cemetery.