Before his death Oct. 6, Oxford Councilman Frank Davis worked to make sure the city would be in the best shape possible, even after he was gone. So, he convinced his wife to take his place.

The Oxford City Council voted Monday to appoint Sarah Davis to fill the rest of Davis’ unexpired term, which runs through 2015.

"He had been telling me for probably six weeks that I should try to run for the council post and that he would like me to continue what he was doing; he just loved the council," Sarah Davis said Tuesday. "He said, ‘You would be a natural.’"

Oxford Mayor Jerry Roseberry said Sarah Davis is a fine person and the council has no issue approving her for the spot.

"(Frank Davis) wanted her to take that slot for him and asked if the council would approve her. We wouldn’t deny that last wish; she’s well-qualified," Roseberry said.

Sarah Davis was born in Newton County, grew up in Oxford and has lived in the town as an adult off and on, including for the past 20 years. She said she loves the city and will work as hard as she needs to for the job.

"(Frank) was such a good person and did so many things for so many people. He would not have left this life if he hadn’t had to," Sarah said. "He said, ‘Somebody has to finish the work I started.’ He never wavered from that."

Among the ongoing projects Frank Davis was interested in are the continued development of the memorial at Oxford School, the city’s historic all-black Rosenwald school; continuing to expand the city’s sidewalk network; and exploring charting unmarked graves in Oxford’s cemeteries.

As the wife of an airline employee whose job meant several moves, Sarah Davis held various jobs, including numerous music positions, including church organist, piano teacher and preschool music teacher.

She is a longtime member of both the Oxford Historical Society and Oxford Lions Club and has served as president of each.