In her younger days, she was an educator but after her move to Singapore she was active in church work and social service organisations, serving as president of the YWCA on two separate occasions.

Davies received the Public Service Star in 1970 and was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, 2014.

[1] Receiving her education during the British rule of India, she attended school in Madras,[2] studying economics and English History and earning her bachelor's and master's degrees.

She travelled abroad, to various places in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East[1] as the president of the Women's Society of Christian Service.

When the Women's Charter passed the Singaporean Parliament in 1961, a ban on polygamy was adopted, as well as many legal protections for which Davies and the SCW had pressed.

[9] After passage of the Charter, Davies turned her attention to social projects with the YWCA and decreased her participation in the SCW.

To reach her own donation goal, Davies sold her house[5][4][15] The building was completed, allowing the YWCA to generate income for other projects from the rent.