Steven Davenport

Steven Davenport, a resident of Fleming Island for the last 43 years, passed away on March 8th, 2022. His childhood was spent in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 1972, he graduated from Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach. Following high school, he attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, earning bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Statistics in 1976. Steve also earned a Master’s in Public Administration, with honors, from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville in 1993. For 40 years, he worked in the Civil Service, primarily at the Fleet Readiness Center located at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. He retired from the Civil Service in 2015. Steve started a second career as an Aerospace Auditor, and he greatly enjoyed this phase of his work life.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jeanne Davenport. He was the father of three daughters: Dr. Laura Davenport of Fleming Island, Dr. Susan (Matthew) Kauffmann of Jacksonville, and Mrs. Jennifer Lee (James) Powel of Miramar, Florida. He had two granddaughters, Beatrice and Twyla Kauffmann. He is also survived by his mother, Charlie Wood Tully, of Bowling Green, Kentucky and sister, Karen (Jay) Rua of Sharon, South Carolina.

He was a Florida Master Gardener and especially enjoyed his time spent volunteering at the Old Florida Garden at the Clay County Fairgrounds. He was a faithful blood donor throughout his life and encouraged others to do so too. He truly loved volunteering, including church carnivals, bingo at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and coaching junior USTA tennis teams. He was always ready to provide a helping hand, no matter what the need was.

Steve loved traveling, hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with his family. He will be remembered as a loving father and husband.

The funeral will be 3:00 pm, Saturday, March 19, 2022 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Green Cove Springs, Florida with The Rev. Amy Slater as celebrant. The burial will follow at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Cemetery.