Joseph Bolt Davenport. age 90, of Anderson, SC, passed away Friday, July 12, 2024, at NHC Healthcare Anderson.
Born August 19, 1933, in Anderson, he was the son of the late Joseph “Joney” Orr Davenport and Nannie Lillian Bolt Davenport. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Betty Carlton Davenport; and sister, Thelma Caroline Davenport Hines.
Joes’ father worked at the Daily Mail and Joe had a paper route. He remembers the men at the Fire Department helped him fold the newspapers before taking them out on his route. His dad died when Joe was 8 years old, and sometime after, Joe was struck by a debilitating illness. Mr. T.L. Hanna, who was principal of Girls High at that time, reached out and took care of Joe and was considered Joe’s second father. Joe said, “When I was most depressed due to my illness, Mr. Hanna would sit down and talk of his past life and how he treated people and his reactions.” Joe said the talks and the mere attention boosted his confidence. Other people that influenced Joe included J. Wilbur Little, Sr. of the Electric City Printing Co. and Douglas McDougald, Sr. of The McDougald Funeral Home; both places where he worked.
Joe was former insurance salesman but for the majority of his life, he had his own consulting firm that dealt with politics and businesses, with an emphasis on helping people. He consulted with and was known by many legislators, starting with former U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings, the former SC Governor and past Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore, and many other South Carolina Governors, Congressmen, and U.S. Presidents.
Joe was a lifelong resident of Anderson who dedicated his life to his community. He was a member of the Lions Club where he served as president, was the recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, and the 61-year pin. Each year since 1976, Joe sponsored an annual Hero’s Breakfast honoring veterans, firefighters, first responders, law enforcement, and community leaders. After his wife’s death, it was named The Betty C. Davenport Breakfast. He served for 25 years on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments. Under three governors, he was appointed to numerous health related commissions including the South Carolina Health Coordinating Council. He was instrumental in the building of several Anderson City Fire Departments as a member of the building committee. Those sites included Station Two in 1966, Station 1 in 1985, and Station 3 in 2009. He was named a Palmetto Gentleman by Governor Carroll A. Campbell and was presented with The Order of the Palmetto which is the highest civilian honor awarded to South Carolinians. He was a Clemson University IPTAY member and member of the Board of Visitors. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Anderson. Later in life, Joe was a former employee at The McDougald Funeral Home.
His voice was heard on “The Morning Show with Greg and Aly” on radio station WAIM which he thoroughly enjoyed. In an article by Greg Wilson of the Anderson Observer, “An Appreciation: Joe Davenport Will Be Missed”, Greg wrote, “His ability to find the rare ground of being grumpy and cheerfully optimistic in the same conversation was legendary.” When Greg asked Joe in 2020 how he wanted to be remembered, Joe said, “Say I was a good citizen and I tried to do my best for everybody. I want to be remembered for trying to do what I could possibly do for the community, the state, and the nation.”
Joe loved his family and friends and would do anything he could for them. We all mourn the death of someone we loved, but eventually, the mourning process subsides. The grieving process does last all the rest of our days. Joe did not just grieve for his wife Betty, he really mourned her every day.
Surviving are a niece, Caroline Hines Hoffman of Columbia, SC; a nephew, Ted Hines (Earlene) of Marion, IL; great nieces, Amanda Hoffman Severine (Nick) of Columbia, SC, Melissa Hoffmann Collison of Port St. Lucie, FL, and Erin Hines Connor (Eric) of Marion, IL; great-great nieces, Peyton Caroline Severine, McKenna Severine, and Hadlee Jo Severine, all of Columbia, SC; and a great-great nephew, Elliot Conner of Marion, IL.
Dear friends Joe felt were family included, Bobby Oppermann, Bradley Orr, Butch Hughes, Greg Shore, Bill Trent, Candice and George Martin, Ken E. Hiott, Sam Stewart, and his caretaker for several years, Deidra Dean.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 3:00 pm First Baptist Church of Anderson. Entombment will follow at a later date at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Dr. Robert Glenn Austin, DMD, age 69, of Anderson, SC, passed away Monday, July 15, 2024, at MUSC Charleston.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church with Rev. Howard Jones officiating. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the service. A private family committal will be held at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery.
Dr. Austin’s full obituary will be published once available.
