James "Jim" Melton Davenport

Jim was born in Pampa, Texas on January 5, 1942 to parents, Guy Norwood Davenport and Garland (“Polly”) Gilliland Davenport. He earned an A.S. in Mathematics at Amarillo Junior College (1962), a B.A. in Mathematics (With High Honors) at West Texas State University (1964), and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Statistics at Southern Methodist University (1969 & 1971). Jim served on the Mathematics faculty at Western Carolina University (1971-1972) and Texas Tech University (1972-1987) and on the Mathematical Sciences and Statistical Sciences & Operations Research faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University (1987-2008). Among many other accomplishments, he worked as a consultant at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, as a consultant at a water development project in Niger, Africa, as editor of Selected Tables, as a leader on The Southern Regional Education Board’s Committee on Statistics, and for two years commuted one day a week to Washington D.C. as a staff member at the National Science Foundation. He was a pioneer in Virginia’s Cooperative Engineering Program, teaching statistics on television to engineering students in several states.

Jim grew up in the Baptist Church but was later confirmed Catholic at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, VA, and was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City, GA at the time of his death. In Richmond he was active in the James River Lion’s Club and worked at CARITAS at the Cathedral. He and his wife participated in a church supper club in Richmond (it met monthly for 15 years) and In Peachtree City he served as Vice President of Friends of the Library, St Francis’ Table, St Vincent de Paul, the Summer Lunch Program, and again, participated in several supper groups. He was an avid daily walker at The Bridge for quite a few years. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with family.

In all of his professional and volunteer work, Jim impacted a lot of people. Former students kept in touch with him frequently even though they nicknamed him “Killer” for his demand for hard work. He was very concerned about poverty and homelessness and tried to help anyone he could. He was a brilliant but humble man with a huge heart.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Polly and Guy; his brother, Dr. Edward Davenport; infant son, Charles Frank; infant daughter, Kathleen; and his young adult son, James. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Cynthia Landford Jones of Peachtree City; his brother, Rev. Charles Davenport of Amarillo, TX; sisters-in-law, Valoise Davenport of Amarillo, TX and Sonya Davenport of Warrensburg, MO; his daughter, Kathy Davenport of Fritch, TX; grandson, Kyle Davenport of Lubbock, TX; stepsons, Richard Jones of Peachtree City and his wife Jennifer Sneed Jones and Jeffrey Jones of Marvin, NC and his wife Jennifer Anthony Jones; as well as three grandchildren in Peachtree City (Hannah, Luke, and Matthew Jones); and three grandchildren in Marvin, NC (Noah, Ella, and Lila Jones).

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday February 23, 2021 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 101 Walt Banks Drive, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Vincent de Paul, c/o Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 101 Walt Banks Drive, Peachtree City, 30269.