By Staff
Jonathan Willis FCT Staff Writer
A Russellville native who has moved on to a successful music career will be back in the area this weekend.
Denise Davis, whose mother and father Willodean and Ellis Davis still live in Russellville, will be performing Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at New Zion Baptist Church, located near the Franklin-Lawrence County line.
Davis, the youngest winner of the Miss Alabama contest, is now a successful artist on the Christian music charts. She travels around the country performing at various churches and women's conferences.
After singing in the church choir and working on her music career in Muscle Shoals, Davis entered the Miss Point Mallard contest in Decatur, which was a Miss Alabama preliminary. Although she didn't win the pageant, she did win the talent portion of the competition and almost as important, she won some free advice.
A lady unknown to Davis approached her with some words that changed her life.
A year later, she was Miss Alabama.
Following the Miss America pageant, Davis went on to perform in the Miss America USO Tour of the Orient and went on to college at the University of North Alabama.
She then decided to move to Nashville in pursuit of her dreams of a career in the music industry.
After several years of opening for popular musical acts such as John Anderson, Lee Greenwood and The Gatlin Brothers, as well as singing on the soundtracks of daytime television shows "Santa Barbara" and "Sunset Beach," she began to feel tired and experienced some numbness in her legs.
One night while playing her piano she lost sight in her left eye. Following a series of tests with a neurologist, she was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis.
Eventually, she lost sight in both of her eyes. Doctors were unsure if she would ever see again. But night after night in the hospital she prayed for the strength to face the disease.
After giving her life over to God's will, she came to a peace with the disease and a strength to fight it. After several months her sight returned, and with it, came a desire to sing Christian music.
And that is exactly what she is doing today. She has released two albums and now travels the country singing at churches and conferences.
She said that her visit to New Zion is particularly special because she will be coming home.
New Zion Pastor Roger Houston said that he has heard nothing but good things about Davis.
To get to New Zion take Highway 24 east towards Moulton. Pass the county line, then go left on the next county road, which will be Lawrence 39.
Proceed on 39 for approximately 2-3 miles until you come to a stop sign. Take a left at that point onto Lawrence 129. Go about 2-3 miles from that point, staying on 129 through an "s-curve," and the church will be on the right.
For more information, contact Houston at 256-221-0842 or 256-685-3006.