William L. Davenport, Jr.

William L. Davenport, Jr. of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida died on Saturday, November 7, 2015. He was born on November 8, 1919 in Mexico, Missouri to William L. and Katharine Hardman Davenport. He was a resident of Atlanta and Big Canoe, Georgia. William (Bill) began his business career with The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in 1949, leaving after ten years to join Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., one of the first start-up electronics firms in Georgia. He served as a Director and Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer of the company, retiring in 1984. Throughout his life he was active in church and community affairs, serving on the first Board of Stewards and Treasurer of Northside Methodist Church; and later as an elder and congregational president of Sandy Springs Christian Church. He served as president of the Northside YMCA, president of the Harvard Business School Club of Atlanta, and a founder and first president of the Georgia Council on Child Abuse. He was a four-year scholarship recipient and an honor graduate of Southern Methodist University where he was elected to the scholastic honorary society that later became the school's Phi Beta Kappa chapter. He was awarded a scholarship to Harvard Graduate School of Business from which he graduated with a Masters degree with Distinction. He later received an LLD with distinction from Emory University Law School. He served in the US Navy during World War II with 25 months in the Pacific area, including participation in the Tarawa assault and occupation. This was followed by service on Admiral Nimitz staff until his release from active duty in 1946. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann Peters Davenport and sister, Mary Katharine McIntyre. He is survived by his wife, Lucretia Mount Davenport, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.; his son Lee Davenport (Mary) Roswell, GA; his daughter Laura Reagan (Randall) Dawsonville, GA. Other survivors include grandchildren, Michael Davenport (Stephanie) Durango, CO; Christopher Davenport (Melissa) Cumming, GA; Kathryn Davenport, Atlanta GA, and great-granddaughters Amelia and Eleanor Davenport, Durango, CO. Also surviving are nieces Julie Shepherd, Fairfax, VA; Melinda Mayo, Holland MI; and nephew William McIntyre, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; stepdaughter, Lynn Mount Rudder, Atlanta, GA; and four step grandchildren, Virginia Lynn, Bennett, Allison and Haynes Rudder. A memorial service will be held on December 5, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at H. M. Patterson Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., Sandy Springs, GA 30328 with interment following at Arlington Memorial Park. For those wishing to make a memorial gift, donation may be made to The Foundation for Hospital Art, 4238 Highborne Dr. N.E. Marietta, GA 30066 or Prevent Child Abuse Pickens, 1222-C East Church Street, Jasper, GA 30143 - or online at pcapickens.org