Sister Mary Ignatius Davis (18 November 1921−9 February 2003) was a Jamaican nun and inspirational musician.
Born in Innswood, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica, Davis was baptised at the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Spanish Town, and went to the St. Catherine Elementary School. After her family moved to Kingston, she attended Alpha Boys School. She joined the Sisters of Mercy on 1 February 1939, aged 17, and lived at the school for the remainder of her life. She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
She inspired many musicians from the Alpha school to become professional musicians. In particular, Sister Ignatius nurtured the talents of tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook, trombonist Don Drummond and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, who went on to form the Skatalites, as well as trombonist Rico Rodriguez, who moved to Great Britain, played with the Specials on their chart-topping Special A.K.A. EP of January 1980 and is currently a member of Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. She contributed to Island Rock, a documentary series broadcast in 2002 on BBC Radio 2 to mark the 40th anniversary of Jamaican independence.
Sister Mary Ignatius had a large record collection that was the envy of many pupils at the Academy. For many years she ran a disco on Saturday nights at the Academy.
She died at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica, in 2003, aged 81.
Famous quotes containing the words sister, mary, ignatius and/or davis:
“England! awake! awake! awake!
Jerusalem thy sister calls!
Why wilt thou sleep the sleep of death,
And close her from thy ancient walls?”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
“The back meets the front.”
—Hawaiian saying no. 2650, ‘lelo No’Eau, collected, translated, and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui, Bishop Museum Press, Hawaii (1983)
“Let me look at the foulness and ugliness of my body. Let me see myself as an ulcerous sore running with every horrible and disgusting poison.”
—St. Ignatius Of Loyola (1491–1556)
“You can make lots of mistakes, but if you give children avenues for creativity and joy, they will have resources to carry them through. For example, if cooking together, reading, listening to music, coloring, participating in sports, or taking a walk in the woods are paired with pleasure and closeness, throughout life doing these things will kindle old feelings of happiness an/or comfort.”
—Charlotte Davis Kasl (20th century)