Julius Davenport

Julius William "J.W." Davenport

Services for J.W. Davenport will be held Saturday at 11 am at Webb Chapel with Rev. Pam Randall and Rev. Paul Raley officiating. Burial will be in Meridian Memorial Park Cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Julius William Davenport, 94, of Meridian, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.
He was born on March 6, 1920 in Porterville, MS. He was the eighth of eleven children born to William Stewart and Etta McConnell Davenport. J.W. was standout at Porterville High School, serving as class president his senior year as well as playing on the football and basketball teams. He earned a scholarship to Mississippi State College and attended one year. He was a veteran of World War II serving from 1942 to 1945 with first the 74th Antiaircraft Battalion in North Africa, Sardinia and Corsica and later with the 370th Combat Engineers building bridges at the front lines in Germany.
After the war, he came back to the family and worked the land, a skill that he continued to enjoy thru the years producing beautiful vegetable gardens well into his 80's. J.W. moved to Meridian in 1953 and went to work for the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad and retired after 33 years from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. It was in Meridian that he met and married his beautiful wife of 53 years the late Gurtis Morgan "Sis" Davenport.
J.W. loved the Lord and was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church for over 50 years. He loved singing in the choir and serving as a Sunday School teacher, a lay leader and many other positions through the years. He loved sports and was always cheering for his Mississippi State Bulldogs, the New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a man of great inner strength, faith and courage and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his daughter, Etta Davenport Price and husband David of Madison; grandsons, LTjg David Michael Price, USN and wife Lindsay of Monterey, CA and ENS Andrew William Price, USN of Meridian and his fiance' Emily Daniels of St. Louis, MO; his sister, Imogene White of Birmingham, AL; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 1500 8th Ave. Meridian, MS 39301 or to the charity of your choice.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.jamesfwebb.com
Visitation will be Saturday from 9-11 am at the funeral home.

Visitation

James F. Webb Funeral Home
2514 7th Street
Meridian, MS  39301
Saturday, January 17, 2015
9-11 am

Service

Chapel

James F. Webb Funeral Home
2514 7th Street
Meridian, MS  39301
Saturday, January 17, 2015
11:00 am

Cemetery

Meridian Memorial Park
Old Hwy 80
Meridian, MS  39301

Memorial Contributions

1500 8th Avenue
Meridian, MS  39301