A Love Like Him

Everyone needs a mentor in college, and for me, that person is Jill Davis. During my freshman year, I ran for freshman representative to get involved on campus. After being elected, I was sent to an overnight retreat during my very first weekend in Searcy. I didn’t know anyone, but Jill welcomed me and even cooked dinner for us that night. I had no idea that moment would mark the beginning of four years of mentorship.

​​We interacted every Wednesday at student government meetings, and Jill always went out of her way to check in on me. What truly deepened our connection, though, was during my sophomore year when I was invited to a Wednesday night all-girls devotional she hosted with Kesley Turley. Growing up, I had never experienced a women-only worship setting, and through that group, Jill showed me what it looks like to be a strong Christian woman in today’s world. From Proverbs to I Samuel, we have covered so many books of the Bible, and there was always a homemade dessert at the Turley home where we would eat and catch up after spending time in God's word. 

I didn’t find out until later that Jill had moved an hour away from campus and was commuting every day. On Wednesdays, she stayed overnight with her parents in Searcy just so she could be at devo each week for us. She never once complained or even mentioned this sacrifice to us. 

One Wednesday in the spring, I was overwhelmed. I was caught in the middle of directing my club Spring Sing show and stressed about schoolwork. I arrived late to the student government meeting, clearly frazzled, and Jill noticed right away. After the meeting, she gave me a hug and let me cry on her shoulder. As we parted, she told me she’d see me at her devo later. Honestly, I had every intention of skipping because I was completely burnt out. But my heart for Jill, and maybe a little guilt, got the best of me, so I drove to devo alone.

When we bowed our heads to pray, Jill said, “Thank you for the girl who didn’t have to be here but still showed up.” I had a feeling she was talking about me. I teared up. It felt like such a simple but powerful validation of a good choice. Her devos were always like a cup of cold water in the middle of a hectic week. Jill taught me that the times you most want to skip worship are often the times you need it the most.

During my junior year, Jill asked if I’d be interested in joining an all-girls two-week trip to Harding’s campus in Athens, Greece. Of course, I said yes. She continued recruiting until we had a group of more than 20 women, ranging in age from 18 to 70, traveling together that summer before my senior year. Jill even encouraged me to invite my mom. Each night before we visited a new city, she and Kesley would share relevant scriptures and explain the significance of what we were about to experience. She put so much of herself into that trip to make sure we could walk where Paul walked. One of my favorite memories was when we got to Mars Hill and Jill had us all sit down and say a prayer. She read from the Bible and applied it to that setting. 

In that moment, I felt so thankful that Harding gave me the chance to travel and grow deeper in my faith. But it made me wonder — who is Harding, really? On that trip, I realized that Harding is the people. It’s the community. And for me it includes Jill Davis and others who made this experience possible for me.

During my senior year, I was elected student body president. One of the best parts of that role was a weekly mentorship lunch with Jill. Every week, she would pick me up and take me to a local restaurant in Searcy. While we did talk about student government, our conversations went far beyond that. We talked about everything from boys to careers to faith. She was a constant source of encouragement, especially during my job interviews. On interview days, she would text me to say she was praying for me and always asked for updates afterward. Her support meant the world to me.

It is difficult to find older people to look up to when the majority of those around me are my age, but throughout every season of college, Jill has shown me the love of Christ and acted as a mother figure I could always count on. Harding is a better place because of people like her.