Steve was born in Mount Airy, NC on April 26, 1944 to Sarah Ashby Martin and Vance Stephen Davenport.
Steve graduated high school in 1962, having excelled in academics and sports and entered NC State. After deciding that he wasn’t an engineer, he took time off and worked at jobs that led him to return to college in 1968, graduating in 1971 from Campbell College with a degree in business administration.
Steve’s first job and one he had until 1993 was with the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) as a field agent. He was Special Unit Supervisor from ’80-’93; principle assignment was Polygraph Examiner-Interrogation Specialist. Steve lectured on polygraph theory and methodology at the SBI Academy, law enforcement agencies, local colleges, District Attorneys’ Conferences, civic groups, and various professional seminars and colloquiums. He was a staff instructor at the Academy of Polygraph Science and Methodology from 1981-1986. His professional affiliations included Society of Former Special Agents of the SBI, elected a Distinguished Fellow in the Academy of Certified Polygraphists, was Founder and Past President of the North Carolina Polygraph Association, Charter member and former Director of the American Association of Police Polygraphists. Following his retirement from the SBI, Steve started his own private investigative business, Davenport Associates, retiring again in 2006, devoting his life to being a full time Grandpa to Jack and Ava. Steve totally enjoyed his affiliation with Cary-Kildaire Rotary. The members have had a very important role in our lives and we treasure Rotary - its values, structure, and ideals and the positive changes it can have on those served.
In Mount Airy, Steve met and in 1967 married his high school sweetheart and wife of 52 years, Judy Hill. They moved from Mt. Airy after two years to Buies Creek where Steve finished his college degree and took their first assignment with the SBI in Roxboro, NC. While there their first child, Van, was born in 1972. Next assignment followed that year to Cary, NC where they lived in two locations and attended White Plains United Methodist Church, meeting many life-long friends, yet keeping up with all they’d met along the way. A couple of years later a second child, Drew, was born and life was really ramped up! Having two boys meant two 3-year stints in Indian Guides, many ballgames of all kinds, many projects for Boy Scouts and school, many family vacations and almost every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter back in Mount Airy to be with family that Steve cherished, and to keep our family near “our roots”.
Steve and Judy traveled to various parts of the US and Canada and on mission trips to Jamaica, and to various parts of Appalachia with ASP Teams from WPUMC. Steve led a team to Jamaica and the boys joined us on many ASP trips. Overseas travels included England and Australia prior to Steve’s first stroke in 2008. After the stroke and 3 years of rehab, we decided to take advantage of a trip to The Holy Land with members of our congregation at WPUMC. Although a challenge, we deemed the trip well-worth the experience. Other trips were with our family to Paradise Island, and finally a Disney Cruise to celebrate life and anniversaries.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah and Vance and Judy’s parents, Louise and Caleb Hill. He is survived by wife, Judy; sons, Drew and Van and Van’s wife, Leslie; grandchildren, Jackson and Ava Davenport; sister, Glenda Gates of High Point, brother, Marty of Mount Airy, sister-in-law, Martha Moore (Larry) of Hendersonville; nieces, Suzette, Terri, Lara, Jaime and Grace; nephews, Richard, Jay and Caleb Moore; great nephews, Evan, Easton, Julius, Trey, Elijah, Tucker, Caleb (Kaitlyn) and Noah; great nieces, Katie, Emily and Nadia; and lots of dear cousins we didn’t see often enough.
A celebration of Steve’s life will be held at 10am Saturday, August 17th, at White Plains United Methodist Church, 313 SE Maynard Rd, Cary, NC 27511. The family will receive friends following the service. Inurnment will be private.
Our family would very much like to thank Steve’s caregivers Spencer Schnoor, Fran Meier, and Alice Stallings, his capable and caring doctors Michael Gagliardi and Keith Hull, Maura Silverman of Triangle Aphasia Project, the staffs at The Glade, Evergreen and Woodland Terrace (two weeks), and Transitions Hospice Home, Raleigh (one week).
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: White Plains Children's Center, 313 Maynard Road, Cary, 27511, or Transitions Hospice, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, 27607, or Triangle Aphasia Project, 191 High House Road, Cary, NC 27511.
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