Jessie Maye Davenport

Our mother passed peacefully in her sleep, ending her amazing life of 101 years. She was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, Ernest Pettigrew (“Dave”) Davenport, and survived by her five sons Michael (w/Barbara), Larry (w/Martha), Pat (w/Hope), Phil (w/Darlene), Richard, nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and many nephews, nieces, and extended family members. Mom was born and raised in a large family in rural central Florida on her parents’ citrus farm/cattle ranch. She graduated valedictorian of her Haines City High School class and entered a government-sponsored training program for depression-era young women. Upon completion, she accepted a job with the Military Intelligence Division of the War Department in Washington, D.C., where she became direct staff to General Dwight David (Ike) Eisenhower for the planning of Operations Torch (North Africa) and Husky (Sicily) prior to his departure to the European Theatre and becoming Supreme Allied Commander during WWII. She declined Ike’s invitation to accompany his staff to Europe and was then transferred to the MID’s Latin America program in Miami. Ultimately, she left MID with two Distinguished Service Medals and moved to Jacksonville, FL where she lived and worked with her sister Mary. How fortunate for us—that’s where she met and married our dad, who had just been transferred from the South Pacific as a veteran of Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal, and the Solomon and Santa Cruz Islands with a PBY squadron. From there, their Navy life carried them to Norfolk, VA; Patuxent River MD, back to Norfolk, then to Bermuda for two years (another seaplane squadron), and then finally back to the Norfolk area where dad retired from the Navy. During most of those years, mom worked in civil service for the Navy, eventually retiring in the 1980s. Growing up during the Depression, both our parents learned the value of hard work and education, values they encouraged in their children. Perhaps more than anything else, mom was proud of the home that she and dad provided for their extended family. She was in her element when she was hosting large family gatherings during the holidays and other special times. Her smile during these events was infectious and memorable. Whenever we were with her, she wanted to know about her grands, where they were and what they were doing. And every visit to her home required a tour of her rose garden and a pledge to help during the springtime, when you were rewarded with flowers and vegetables. Both mom and dad were active in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and the VP-11 Association, dad’s South Pacific PBY squadron. Dad was a Mason, while mom since 1950 was a charter member of the Julia Halla Chapter No. 107 Order of the Eastern Star in Hollywood, MD. She also served as president of Toastmistress Club of NAS Norfolk and the Thoroughgood Elementary PTA (in Virginia Beach). From there, she became a Committee Chair of the Virginia Beach Council of PTAs. Mom was among the last of the Greatest Generation, those who grew up during the Great Depression, survived a world at war, married for life, raised and educated children, and celebrated their grandchildren, great-grands and life in its entirety. She helped build America. She is irreplaceable and will remain in our hearts forever.

Mike, Larry, Pat, Phil, and Richard, their wives, grandchildren, great-grands

A visitation for Jessie will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 6329 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, Virginia 23502. A Celebration of Life will occur Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Woodlawn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jessie's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.woodlawnnorfolk.com for the Davenport family.