KILMARNOCK—Reverend Edith Rowena Davenport was called home to be with her heavenly father on Friday, February 12.
Edith was born February 27, 1936. She was the youngest of three children born to the late Thomas Cephas Carter and the late Gussie Marie Taylor Carter.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Cephas R. Carter.
She is survived by her sister, Helen L. Wynn.
Edith was joined in holy matrimony to the late Ernest C. Davenport for 36 years. To this union three sons were born: Ronald (Edna), Ernest (Gracie) and Eric (Mara). She has eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Edith graduated from A. T. Wright High School in 1953 and was class president. She graduated from J. L. Loving Jr. School of Practical Tailoring, Richmond, in 1954. She was also a graduate of The American Bible College, Pineland, Fla., and holds a Christian Development Diploma from the Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tenn. She earned a Certificate in Religious Studies from Virginia Union University School of Theology and a Certificate in Managing the Local Church from the University of Richmond, both of Richmond. She also holds a Certificate of Life Membership from the Division of Women of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia, Richmond.
Edith was a pioneer in Christian leadership, business, and civic engagement. Reverend Davenport was licensed to preach by Mount Vernon Baptist Church, White Stone, on December 17, 1978, and ordained on November 22, 1992, by Macedonia Baptist Church, Heathsville. She served as assistant pastor at Macedonia and later served as assistant and interim pastor at Mount Vernon.
To cherish her memory she leaves behind family, special friends, Etta Moody, Elsie Ball, Mary Dolby (who she thought of as a sister), Hollis Carter III who was a fourth son, as well as church families at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Macedonia Baptist Church and Queen Esther Baptist Church.
A walk-thru viewing will be held at Campbell Funeral Home in Kilmarnock from 4-6 p.m. Friday, February 19. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 20, at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery in White Stone. In compliance with state-mandated guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, everyone must wear a mask and social distancing is required.
