Joyce Estelle Davenport
9/23/2021 - 3/12/1938

Momma…

In Loving Memory of Joyce Estelle Davenport

Mrs. Joyce Estelle Davenport departed this earth to be with her heavenly father on Thursday, 23 September 2021 after fighting a long battle with lung disease. Her devoted son Terrance was by her side as she slipped peacefully away. The last days and hours preceding her death saw her family come together and sit vigil with her, sharing stories, love, laughter, hugs and tears, we were able to be with her and say our final goodbyes.

Although the family feels a tremendous sense of loss, we are all so grateful knowing that this wife, this mother, this grand and great grandmother is no longer in pain and suffering.
Joyce was born on March 12, 1938, she was the youngest daughter of a share crop farmer and a stay-at-home mother (which wasn't categorized as a thing back in those days, it was just a way of life) in Calcasieu parish, Dequincy Louisiana during the last part of the Great Depression and just before the start of World War II, this upbringing and generation helped to shape Joyce's formative years and transformed her into the formidable, no non sense, no holds barred woman her family came to know and love.

In plain words, Joyce was a hard headed, stubborn woman who wasn't afraid to tell anyone what was on her mind, she lived her life on her terms and with her filter button in the permanently off position! Joyce found the love of her life Almond "Dave" Davenport in the checkout line of Weingarten's Supermarket where she worked as a Check-out Girl in 1966 and after a few return trips for groceries and a brief courtship Joyce proposed to Dave and they were officially married in Newton, Texas on February 26, 1966. Dave and Joyce were both previously married, so their union created a new blended family. This past February saw Dave and Joyce celebrate 55 years of marriage. Joyce was known to brag on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she had a huge huge heart and she loved her family like no one else; she was always there to open her home to anyone that needed it and was always prepared to feed an army at a moment's notice. She held many titles, Wife, Mother, Mom, Momma, MawMaw and she loved each and every one of them, but Joyce was also prolific cook, honing her skills throughout the years and one of the titles she best loved earning was the prestigious nickname of Mama Sophie presented to by her dearly departed Brother-In-Law Willie. With every visit and every plate of food or sauce creation Uncle Willie could be heard proclaiming that Mama Sophie did it again, and when was she going to open a restaurant. Celebrations and family gatherings would find Mama Sophie hard at work in the kitchen, cooking was a way she would show how much she loved her family and you could always taste it in every bowl of Gumbo and split pea salad she prepared, or dirty rice she spooned out. Her cooking influences were diverse, she spent time traveling with her husband Dave and her children in the early years of their marriage, living in places like the Rio Grande Valley while Dave worked on building the Dams and Levies in that region, Joyce filled her time making friends with the local families and learning to prepare those local dishes. Joyce never met a stranger and developed lifelong friends everywhere she went. She passed down her passion for cooking to all of her family, teaching all of her children and grandchildren that wanted to learn. Joyce was also known to cut a mean rug and you would find her and Dave dancing the night away with friends and family at the Rambling Rose. New Year's Eve celebrations would find their garage turned into a dance floor with songs of Marty Robbins, Ray Price, and other beloved country artists playing on the stereo. Sons, Daughters, friends and family could be seen spinning around the floor dancing a Schottische or Cotton Eyed Joe! Later in life, Joyce could be seen caring for her grandchildren and great grandchildren, she loved spending time with them and would always be excited when family would walk in the door, but occasionally if the song and mood were right, you could see her and Dave gently swaying to the sound of a love song or sitting watching one of their favorite TV shows in the living room holding each other's hands.

How do you capture a lifetime, how do you put into words the pain you feel or the emptiness that is left, the happiness of knowing that pain and suffering has ended, the memories that you hold dear and laughter and tears that come with each remembrance?

I don't have the ability to put into words the impact, the love, the loss we all feel. Joyce was an amazing woman and she taught us all what hard work, sacrifice, commitment, love and respect were. She was our Matriarch and we will love her and miss her forever.

You are home in Heaven now, you must be oh so happy and it must be oh so bright. I see you now standing there in Perfect Joy and Perfect Light. Your pain is over now, your suffering has ended, your heavenly celebration must be tremendous, surrounded by love and now safely home and reunited with family. Just know that today, tomorrow and for always, you; our love, our wife, our mother, our grand and great grandmother will forever reside here on earth with us in that special place of our heart, that place where you will always be our home.

We love you Momma.

Joyce is preceded in death by her Father Grover Cleveland Smith, Mother Lela Estelle Smith, Sisters Annie Mae Royer, Mildred Goodman, Grace Malone, MaeDell Robertson, Clara Sue Smith and Brothers Grover Wilson Smith and James Lafayette Smith. Her Brother-in-Law William Davenport and Sister-in-law Daphne Davenport and her Grandson Randy Knight and Great Grandson Ian Goss.

Joyce is survived by Husband Almond "Dave" Davenport, her Children Paula Knight, Almond Davenport Jr., Sylvia McCann, Allen Davenport, Terrance Davenport (wife Amanda), Darrell Davenport, Tracy Davenport (wife Linda) and by her Grand Children - Tommy Goss (wife Chantel), Terrance Joseph Davenport., Joshua Davenport (wife Stephanie), Courtney Fontenot (husband Bart), Diane Knight, Samantha Damian (husband Josh), Eric Davenport (wife Haley), Zachariah Davenport, Emily Davenport, Ethan Davenport, Shawn Lebeuf, Larry Lebeuf, Tracy Davenport Jr (wife Ashley), and last but not least Austin Davenport.

She is also survived by many many Great Grand Children, because if there is one thing us Davenport's are really good at, it is procreating.

A small gathering of family will take place at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the COPD Foundation at www.copdfoundation.org or by calling 1-866-731-2673 ext. 387 or by email at donations@copdfoundation.org.

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