Charles Robert Davenport

Davenport, Charles Robert, age 78 of Knoxville, died on October 2, 2022 at Sacred Ground Hospice. He was a parishioner of Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Davenport was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville on February 4, 1944, was educated at Knoxville City Schools, Fair Garden Elementary, Park Jr. High, and Knoxville East High Schools and was a member of the Knoxville East High School Alumni Association. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Education, an MS in Library and Information Science and was a member of Beta Phi Mu, International Library Science Honor Society. In high school, he worked part time at Crockett’s Shop & Shop Market in Fountain City and was a member of Club Le Conte.

For 31 years Mr. Davenport taught for the Knox County School System at Brickey McCloud Elementary (social studies), as a librarian, at Halls Elementary, Carter Middle, and at Gap Creek Elementary Schools where many students learned a love of reading and of books from "Mr. D." Mr. Davenport was awarded an Honorary Life membership in the Tennessee Council Of Parent Teacher Associations by the Halls Elementary School PTA for his outstanding work with children and young people and support of the goals and objectives of the PTA. He was a member of the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association.

Charles served as the interim director of the Knox County Public Library System and was appointed by the Knox County Commission to the Knox County Public Library Board of Trustees where he served as a member for three years and President of the Board for fifteen years. During his tenure, ten new neighborhood branch libraries were built.

Col. Davenport was a member of the Civil Air Patrol having served as Vice Commander of the Southeast Region, special advisor to the National Commander of Civil Air Patrol, Director of Cadet Programs for the Tennessee Wing, and Director of Aerospace Education for the Southeast Region, and member of the Membership Action Review Board (MARB). Col. Davenport was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and many other CAP awards and medals.

Mr. Davenport worked for Knox County Trustee, Mike Lowe, as a field auditor, was appointed by Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. to be his representative to the "We The People" program. The purpose of this federally funded program was to promote an understanding by students of the way our national government works. For several years, Mr. Davenport served as the chairman of the local chapter of the Captive Nations Committee, served as a member of the Community Advisory Committee for two holocaust conferences at UTK, and a Holocaust art exhibition at the Knoxville Museum of Art. For his considerable educational and civic work, Mr. Davenport was honored by the Tennessee State House Of Representatives with a Joint Resolution for his distinguished, lifetime service to our community.

Charles was preceded in death by mother, Edna Ruth Layne Davenport Oaks; father, Harry Lee Davenport; sister, Janice Lee Davenport Francis; on his mother’s side, grandmother, Minnie Hightower Layne; grandfather, James Harvey Layne; aunts, Anna Beatrice Layne, Ella Sue Layne Craig; uncles, James William Layne, George Robert Layne, Paul Martin Layne, Ivan Dennis Layne; cousin, Nancy Layne Hanson; on his father’s side; grandmother, Hattie Randles Davenport; grandfather, Hugh Ralford Davenport, Sr.; aunt, Lydia Elizabeth Davenport Fann; uncles, John David Davenport, Hugh Ralford Davenport, Jr., Joseph Randles Davenport, Charles Robert Davenport. Mr. Davenport was also preceded in death by step-father, Robert (Red) Lafayette Oaks.

He is survived by nieces; Faith Charlene Francis Watson of Phoenix, AZ, Hope RuthAnn Francis Ellis and husband, David of Knoxville, TN; cousin, Michelle Leigh Hoover of Santa Paula, CA; great niece, Emily RuthAnn Ellis of Knoxville, TN; and great nephew, William (Bill) Ray Ellis and wife, Kristin of Louisville, KY; great-great niece, Payton Rae Ellis. Special friends, Sylvia Walker and John Hitt both of Knoxville, TN.

Family will receive friends Thursday, October 6th from 5-7pm at Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 4328 E. Emory Road, Knoxville, TN 37938, with funeral service to follow at 7pm. Burial will be at Lynnhurst Cemetery Friday, October 7th at 11am, meeting at the graveside at 10:45am. Flowers accepted; however, if desired, please make memorial contributions to Friends of the Knox County Public Library at www.knoxfriends.org.

Charles will always be remembered as “a teacher of children and a builder of libraries.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berrylynnhurst.com for the Davenport family.