MURFREESBORO – Patricia Simmons Davenport, 83, of Murfreesboro died Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at Roanoke Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie.

She had been preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Harrison Davenport, Sr.; parents, William Franklin and Tamazine Alexander Simmons; and two brothers, Metsel Kirby Simmons and Theodore Garland Simmons.

A native of Columbia, she attended East Carolina Teachers College which later became East Carolina University, then used her skills to work as a Teachers’ Assistant at Riverview Elementary School in Murfreesboro.  An avid reader and Bridge player, she was a dedicated member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church and was very close to and embraced by her husband’s family.  She enriched the lives of her wide circle of family and friends.

Survivors include four children, Stephen Harrison Davenport, Jr. and wife, Kathy, and Lizbeth D. Brown and husband, Bruce, of Murfreesboro, Joy D. Cooke and husband, Robert, of Wendell, and Bern G. Davenport of Ahoskie; six grandchildren, Hunter T. Brown and wife, Sarah, of Murfreesboro, Anna B. Pierce and husband, Pate, of Ahoskie, Jeremy R. Cooke of Raleigh, Laurin C. Ritchie and husband, Dave, of Raleigh, John Duffy Davenport of Wilmington, and William Simmons Davenport of Wilmington; and five great grandchildren, Fletcher, Camille and Liza Pierce and Elizabeth and Molly Brown.

A Memorial Service for Mrs. Davenport will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2011 in Murfreesboro Baptist Church with Lee Canipe and Fran McKinney officiating.

The family will be receiving friends at the home of Bruce and Liz Brown, 608 Woodridge Drive in Murfreesboro and have requested that anyone wishing to share a memorial gift, please do so to Murfreesboro Baptist Church Sanctuary Renovation Fund or to the Chowan University Davenport Family Scholarship Fund.

Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. of Conway is in charge of arrangements.