Obituary of Raymond Charles Davenport

Raymond “Ray” Charles Davenport died at age 89 on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Palmetto Health Tuomey. He was predeceased by his wife, Lula Kate Davenport. Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he was the son of the late Raymond Forbes Davenport and the late Ruth Barr Davenport. Surviving are his children, Susan Elizabeth Davenport, Raymond Forbes Davenport II (Mary Ellen) and Louise Davenport Fudger (Jack) all of Sumter; an honorary son, Edward Cribb (Linda) of North Carolina; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three sisters, Marcia Davenport of Florida, Janice Collins of Idaho and Alice Amman of New York. Davenport was a veteran of World War II and Korea. Initially stationed at Shaw Field in Sumter, he met his wife of 68 years, Lula Kate Chatham, who was a Cadet Nurse in training at Tuomey Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated from Tuomey in 1945 and later received her BSN degree from the University of South Carolina. She retired from nursing from the Sumter County Health Department (DHEC). Davenport graduated from The Art School, Pratt Institute, New York City, and began his art career as a free-lance commercial artist. After moving to South Carolina and acquiring 24 years in this field, he redirected his energies to fine art. His work has received numerous awards nationwide and is found in the collections of President Ronald Reagan and the SC Permanent Collection. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 24, 2016 at St. James Lutheran Church with Rev. Keith Getz officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 P.M. Saturday at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran School, 1137 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC 29150, to the Sumter County Gallery of Art, P.O. Box 1316, Sumter, SC 29151 or to Tuomey Foundation Hospice Services, 102 N. Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.