Shirley Davenport

Shirley Dolores Elizabeth Davenport was the daughter of the late Perry and Lucy Johnson Davenport. She was born on August 20,1942 in Paterson, New Jersey. Shirley believed in the Lord and was baptized at an early age. She worshiped whenever she could at churches in Paterson, East Orange and Newark, N.J. She attended and graduated from Paterson Public Schools. She had a passion for modeling and singing. Following her graduation, her guidance counselors, teachers and friends encouraged her to enroll at the Barbizon Modeling School in Clifton NJ. She became a New York Model for several years. Shirley loved music. In earlier days, she was described as a “Singing Glamour Girl” who had natural long beautiful black hair and long beautiful nails. Shirley had a gifted voice which was sought out. She became a background singer for those who called on her. She even rerecorded a demo copy of the record called “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”. After her singing and modeling career came to an end, Shirley was employed at various jobs. Everyone knew she had a great memory and praised her for her memory skills. It was then that she took the job offered to her at the U. S. Postal Service in Paterson, N. J. If there was something important you had to do or an event you did not want to forget, you only had to call Shirley and she would remind you about that event, date and time. She kept up with current events and liked to do things that challenged her mind. She was an avid reader. She read Readers Digest and various entertainment, science, word find and educational books, but her favorite book to read was the Bible. Shirley liked to draw and color. In her earlier years, she was blessed to be a “gifted” artist who was known for her face cameo portraits. She will be remembered as a person who took time to give, help and care for others, like her belated friend Ms. Helen. Shirley liked to shop, complete complicated puzzles, play board games, watch shows and old movies on television, going to the movies and Bingo. She enjoyed attending different Adult Enrichment Center Programs. Shirley will also be remembered as a person who truly loved the Lord and her family. She ended every phone call with “I love you all and I’m praying for everyone”. Shirley Dolores Elizabeth Davenport entered eternal rest on August 2,2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, Perry Sr. and Lucy Davenport, sisters Colene Mayo, Ira Moore, Marion Wood, Sally Burns, brother Perry (Junie) Davenport, Jr., brother in laws, James Wilson Mayo, Benjamin Miller, Sr., Jasper (Larry) Lowery, Rev Dr. Richard Wood, Henry Burns, nephews Benjamin Miller Jr, Clinton Battle and John Hogan. She leaves to cherish precious memories, her sisters Vera West Miller of Belleville, N.J., Lucy “Cookie” Lowery and Carrie Davenport both of Paterson, N.J. Brother in law Stanley Moore of Bumpass, VA., Her nieces and nephews, Jeannette (Jimmie) Riggins, Karen Mayo Hogan and Margo Mayo all of Paterson, Darcelle (James Meeks) Battle of Glen Burnie, Md., Merill (Keith) Alston of East Orange, NJ, Perry “Tony” Davenport of Baltimore, Md., Patrick and Joseph Miller, Annette Moreau all of Belleville, NJ., Deborah McCray and Lawrence Moore of Wimauma, Florida, Rashad (Jhia) Shabaka Burns of Ewing, NJ., Larry Burns of Smyrna, De., Valerie (Van) Williams of West Orange, NJ., Terrance “TV” Miller of Atlanta Ga., Edwin “Greg” (Christine) Miller of Norwalk, Conn., and Kimberly Chestnut of Easton, Pa?., Special caregiver adopted nephew Rick Eley and the Eley family of Newark. N.J., a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Shirley was truly loved and will be missed by all. She is gone from our presence but not forgotten, for to be absent from the body is to be present with her Lord.

Shirley Davenport

August 20, 1942 - August 2, 2022