Obituary of Ralph Oliver Davenport

Ralph Oliver Davenport, the son of the late Harry and Mary Fleming Davenport was born December 26, 1928 in Cumberland, Virginia. He departed this life to be with the Lord on October 29, 2010. He was Baptized at an early age and became a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Cumberland , Virginia. He served the Lord and Mount Olive as a member of the Deacon Board and also sang on the Male Chorus. On May 1, 1947 he was wed to Mary Jane Brown of Cumberland, Virginia. They shared their lives for 63 years and from this union five children, Deloris, Cynthia, Brenda, Ralph (Tony) and Rodney were born. He loved spending time with his family and looked forward to every gathering His grandchildren and great grandchildren brought him great joy in his later years. After graduation from Cumberland High School in 1945 he relocated to Paterson, New Jersey. He was employed many year as a foreman with Plastic Horizons in Clifton, New Jersey. When he returned home to Virginia he became an officer with the Department of Corrections in Powhatan, Virginia until his retirement. An avid gardener, he took great pride in the harvest of vegetables he would share with family and friends. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Deloris; three brothers, Christopher, Writney and Rutherford and a sister Lillian (Bernice). He leaves a devoted wife Mary Jane Davenport; two daughters, Cynthia Freeman and Brenda Stephens; two sons, Ralph (Sasha), Rodney (Barbara); ten grandchildren, Chantanette (Charles), Verraina, Justin (Deneisha), Lamar, Tara, Aliyah, Taylor, Tajia, Rodney II and Imani; a brother, Shirley (Estelle); four sisters-in-law, Florine (Haywood)Wimberly, Susie Brown, Millie Brown and Bettie Brown; a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.