Birth and death dates from the Davis family Bible in the possession of Alma Gray Durham Mitchell. In the Bible, written by her mother Frances Dunn Davis, her named is spelled Seselia.

On 2 April 1878, Ann Davis was born in Essex County, Virginia, daughter of Samuel Davis, a shoemaker of Essex County, and Frances Davis. [Essex County, Virginia, Birth Register, page 167.] This date conflicts with that in the Davis family Bible.

According to Pearl Irene Davis Kopp, she went by Celie. She is listed this way in her marriage record.

Pearl Irene Davis Kopp, 29 September 1991: I think that aunt Celie was always a cripple. One side you know was … But she used to just limp a lot. She used to wear one shoe with a heal about so high [gestures], and the other one like that. But she could get around real good, though, really. Surprising.

Her birth is listed in the Essex County birth records, page 167, which provides a different birth date of 2 April 1878.

1880 U.S. Census for Essex County, Virginia:
Dwelling 256, Family 256, Chapel Grove election precinct
Davis, Saml, white, male, 58, married, cordwainer
Davis, Frances C., white female, 41, wife, married, keeping house
Davis, Maddison, white, male, 16, son, single, works on farm
Davis, Warren, white, male, 14, son, single, works on farm, in school
Davis, Cora, white, female, 12, daughter, single, at home, in school
Davis, Robt S., white, male, 9, son, single, at home, in school
Davis, Joe, white, male, 7, son, single, at home, in school
Davis, E. E., white, male, 4, son, single, at home
Davis, Cecilia, white, female, 2, daughter, at home
Everyone was born in Virginia. E. E. and Cecilia are unable to read; E. E., Cecilia, Joe and Robert are unable to write.

A deed was made on 18 March 1895 between F. C. Davis, R. S. Davis, Joseph Davis and Emma Davis his wife, Cora Davis, C. Celia Davis and C. P. Taylor of the first part, and John Waller Jones of the second part, all of Essex County. The parties of the first part for $250 sell 35 acres in the Rappahannock District bounded on the north by Richard Bayton, on the west by R. C. Brizendine, on the south by the estate of Samuel Davis and on the east by the road leading to Wright and Brizendine’s grist mill. Signed F. C. Davis, R. S. Davis, Joseph Davis, Emma Davis, Cora Davis, C. Celia Davis, and C. P. Taylor. Recorded 5 January 1899. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 59, pages 274-275.]

Marriage recorded in Essex County Marriage Register Book 1, page 124. The marriage register provides a marriage date of 10 February 1897. In the Davis family Bible, however, which was in the possession of Cecilia Ann Davis Mitchell, she or her mother listed her marriage date as 20 February 1898, at Ephesus Baptist Church in Dunnsville, Virginia.

A deed was made of 2 August 1899 between Robert S. Davis and Lucile Davis his wife, Celia A. Mitchell who was Celia A. Davis, John R. Mitchell her husband, Cora E. Durham who was Cora E. Davis, and Charles T. Durham her husband, parties of the first part, and Joseph Davis, party of the second part, all of Essex County. For $180 the parties of the first part sell all of the interest that they acquired “as heirs at law of Samuel Davis deceased in a certain tract of land of which the said Samuel Davis died seized and possessed situated and lying in Rappahannock Magisterial District Essex County Virginia, on the main county road leading from Dunnsville to Center Cross, and adjoining the lands of Richard Bayton, Austin Brizendine & James Southard this being the same tract of land conveyed to Samuel Davis by deed from Thomas Croxton & Muscoe Garnett Commissioners having date on the 20th day of November 1869, and of record in the clerks office of Essex County court Deed Book 52 page 233, less 9 acres 2 roods [sic] & 36 poles conveyed by Samuel Davis to J. R. Southard by deed bearing date the 21 day of March 1885.” Signed R. S. Davis, Celia A. Mitchell, J. R. Mitchell, Cora E. Durham, and Charles T. Durham. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 59, page 428.]

1910 U.S. Census for Essex County, Virginia:
Rappahanock District, Dwelling 215, Family 218
On Bestland Road to Howertons
Mitchell, James R., 40, farmer, owned farm free of mortgage, farm schedule 206
Mitchell, Cecilia, 31, has had 4 children, all of whom are living
Mitchell, Bernard, 12, in school
Mitchell, Ruby S., 10, in school
Mitchell, Joseph R., 6
Mitchell, Floyd M., 2

1920 U.S. Census for Essex County, Virginia:
Rappahannock District, E.D. 44, Dwelling 22, Family 22, Bestland Road
Mitchell, John R., head, owned, 51, farmer, general farm
Mitchell, C. A., wife, 41 Mitchell, B. E., son, 21, in school
Mitchell, R. S., daughter, 19
Mitchell, J. R. Jr., son, 16, in school
Mitchell, F. M., son, 12, in school

1930 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Rappahannock District, Enumeration District 29-6, Sheet 6A (253)
Dwelling 134, Family 135
Mitchell, James R., head, owner, lives on farm, male, white, 61, married, age at first marriage 28, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, farmer on general farm, works on own account, at work previous work day, not a veteran
Mitchell, Celia, wife, lives on farm, female, white, 52, married, age at first marriage 18, not in school, can read and write, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia, speaks English, no occupation

Her tombstone reads
Cecilia Davis Mitchell
April 14, 1878
Jan. 13, 1964
She is buried with her husband. Perhaps this date is a baptismal date.