Stephanie Renee Davenport

Stephanie Davenport, age 60, was born on September 25, 1961, to proud parents, Barbara and Samuel Davenport, in Montgomery, West Virginia. She was the third of five children and grew up in Columbus, Ohio surrounded by her large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

As a child, Stephanie was a leader, tenacious, and always highly competitive – especially when it came to sports. She was a natural-born athlete – beginning as a double-dutch expert, and onward to recreational football, basketball, baseball, touch ball, and dodgeball. In sports, the boys never stood a fair chance, she beat them in all sports and was an essential player of the winning team! Stephanie was relentless, a theme that continued throughout every facet of her life. Coming in second place – in anything – was simply not an option.

As a young girl, Stephanie often felt “out of place.” As a young woman, she sometimes felt like she didn’t have a friend in the world even though many people around her loved her dearly. Her mother, Barbara, introduced her to the gospel and once she developed a very personal relationship with God, she knew she always had a friend in him. She continued to spend much of her time in the church and began to serve as a teacher for the very first time, teaching Sunday School to youth ministry at 17 years old. Stephanie remained faithful to her relationship with God throughout the remainder of her life. She was living by the lyrics of the song by CeCe Winans, The Goodness of God.  It goes like this:

 “I've known You as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God,

Because all my life You have been faithful, oh yes You have

And all my life, You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me

With my life laid down, I surrendered now

I give You everything, oh Lord

Your goodness is running after, it's running after me”

Stephanie was an Honor Student and extremely involved in extracurricular activities.  She also served as a High School and Collegiate level athlete.

Her inspiration to go to college to study computer science came from her dad, Samuel, who was one of the first African-Americans in West-Virginia to work at IBM. Nothing could curb her curiosity, and against her parent’s permission, she would play with the computers he worked on at home.  Stephanie was offered a scholarship to run track, but chose to focus solely on her academics. She went on to attend the Ohio State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration & Information Systems. She had a passion for Computer Science.

Stephanie began her career as a software developer and advanced to senior business, technology, and consulting leadership roles. Her career spans over 25 years of high-level experience providing strategic solutions and leadership to leading companies in the Technology and Finance industries, that include roles as Global Co-Head of Technology Marketing at Bank of New York Mellon, Vice President of Technology, and Chief Technology Officer of BizBase at JPMorgan Chase, Vice President of Technology at Bank of America, Consumer Technology Consulting Manager at KPMG, and Senior Vice President of Technology and Banking Operations Strategy and Performance at SunTrust Bank where she built and managed the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) functions for the $200 Billion banking organization to “Run IT Like a Business”.

Stephanie had a knack for trailblazing.

Stephanie was an Entrepreneur, Strategist, Strategic Coach, Advisor, and Speaker sought after by many for her ability to bring unique perspectives, clarity to ambiguity, simplicity to complexity, visibility to blind spots, a roadmap to vision, and drive impactful results! She is the Founder & CEO of PRIME Strategy, a cross-industry strategic advisory and coaching company with a mission to help people and organizations thrive! She held key roles in Product Development, Marketing, Business Development, Alliance Partner Development, Interim Leadership, and as a Strategic Coach to top-level executives.

Across several industries, she influenced and touched so many with her work and lifted them up, and encouraged them in their careers and professions. 

She had a unique way of bringing people together and enjoyed connecting and uniting teams, business leaders, entrepreneurs, community members, and stakeholders in a manner that builds synergy and strengthens a focus on common goals. She Co-Chaired the Women’s Network of a Fortune 500 Company establishing and successfully executing strategies for engaging allies and empowering women to lead at higher levels in enterprise technology, operations, and business units. She was also engaged by global organizations to facilitate vision and strategy development for minority forums to support DE&I agendas.

Stephanie took on additional leadership roles outside of work.  She was Co-Chair of Forsyth County Georgia School Board Strategic Planning Steering Committee.  She was also Co-Chair of SunTrust Bank Women’s Network – Built alliances with KPMG, Coca-Cola, and NCR Women’s Networks

Stephanie was a cheerleader to everyone around her, and she knew no stranger. She was supportive and encouraging to each person she met, and she wanted to be the most encouraging person in the world — so she set out to do that. Just this year, she began each and every Monday morning by sharing a dose of encouragement with her network via her online podcast, Fountain of Encouragement. Her last post was to “Recognize those who support often! Let them know you appreciate them”.

She enjoyed golfing, going for long walks, and participating in 5k running events. She loved waking up early enough each morning to take morning walks on the beach and catch the sunrise.

For all of her success in business and banking, her most significant accomplishment of all was her commitment to family and her daughters, Nicole and Danielle Rosanwo.  Not a day went by where Stephanie was not doing something to support, enhance and counsel her daughters as a friend, business partner, and mother.  She lived for her daughters.

Stephanie began her heavenly transition on Friday, September 16th. Stephanie was a gift to the world and her spirit is still very much alive. She will continue to be greatly loved, cherished and forever celebrated. Stephanie’s legacy will forever be grounded in her love and commitment to family, her daughters, her friends, and professional colleagues.

She is survived by her Mother, Barbara Fowlkes; daughters – Nicole Rosanwo and Danielle Rosanwo; sisters – Debra Harris, Marta Newman, and Denise Fowlkes; brothers, Sam Davenport Jr., Anthony Davenport, Glen Davenport; and her many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Stephanie was predeceased by her father, Samuel James Davenport, and grandparents Alice Combs, Carl Combs, and Dolly Webb.

In remembering Stephanie, we ask that you honor her by celebrating her life and serving as a Fountain of Encouragement to those around you.

A memorial celebration for Stephanie will be held on October 8th, at 11 am at Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home – 2401 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33324.

To attend her virtual memorial service via Zoom, please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Lpu2LJGoQ02mu5Ohhu5Umw 

The family of Stephanie Davenport extends our deepest appreciation for all of expressions of love and kindness, shown during this time. May God continue to bless you and keep you.