MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR ELDER LEROY DAVENPORT
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that Members of this Chamber learned of the death of Elder Leroy Davenport on Saturday March 27th, 2019 at the age of ninety-three; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy was born to William Jr. and Mariah Davenport on June 8, 1925 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the sixth of ten children. The family moved back to Clarksdale, Mississippi when Elder LeRoy was three years old; and
WHEREAS, as a young boy, Elder Leroy, along with his siblings, attended a segregated public school system for just four months ofthe year and worked in the fields for the remaining eight; and
WHEREAS, Elder LeRoy confessed his belief in Christ as the Son of God at the age of fourteen and was baptized at Mount Avery Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend Jasper Williams, Sr.; and
WHEREAS, as a young man, Elder Leroy served two years in the United States Army and was posted to the 92nd Division, Tank Destroyer; and
WHEREAS, in 1946, Elder Leroy married his childhood sweetheart, Miss Mae Bell Booker, whom he affectionately called "Honey Peach". Miss Mae Bell was the older daughter of Jesse and Callie Booker and one of a family of fourteen children; and
WHEREAS, like his father and grandfather, Elder Leroy Booker was a sharecropper while in Mississippi. He also held several other jobs during the course of his full life including, cold storage worker, coal hacker, and eighteen years as a steel melter; and
WHEREAS, in 1953, Elder Leroy and his wife, plus four of their children, joined his brother, Hosea, in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy's church upbringing followed him to Chicago where he joined the Burning Bush Missionary Baptist Church under the tutelage of the Reverend Monroe Williams. At Burning Bush he served on the Deacon Board and began what would become his legacy of working with young people. He would regularly take his teen ministers and youth choir to various engagements throughout the neighborhood, a practice he continued throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy founded, organized, and chartered the Greater Little Rock Missionary Baptist, The Lord's Church at its first location, 1493 North Larabee Street in Chicago, in 1961. The church began as a small missionary society and, as it continued to grow under Elder Leroy's guidance, moved several times. The last relocation occurred in 2013, when church members proudly purchased and remodeled their current building at 647 North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy was a Christian and community leader who dedicated his life as a husband and father; religious leader; Auxiliary Champlain for the Office ofthe Sheriff of Cook County; member of the Freewill Ministers Conference; former President of the Clergy United for Community Near North; and many other roles. He was also loved sports and always enjoyed listening to and watching baseball; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy departed this earthly place while at his home. He follows into paradise his beloved wife, Mae Bell; his parents, William Jr. and Mariah; two daughters, Rose Taylor and Debbie; three sons, Leroy Jr., Jesse, and Charles; three sisters, Alberta Wilson, Ola Mae Green, and Thelma Lawson; two brothers, William Jr. and Hosea; two grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and
WHEREAS, Elder Leroy leaves to cherish his fond memories many devoted loved ones, among them: nine children, Walter Sr., Clarence (Rose Mary), Eunice Beard (Earnest), Marvin Sr., (Judith), Michelle, Raymond Sr. (Tracey), Melvin Sr. (LaTonda), James Sr. (Marcella), and Donald (Cassandra); daughter-in-law, Sundra Davenport; one brother, Louis (Delores); one sister, Rubie Brown; two sisters-in-law, Leona Davenport and Millie (Joseph) Smith; a special granddaughter that cared for him and Mama, Tawanna; and many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council ofthe City of Chicago, gathered here this tenth day of April, 2019, do hereby express our deep sorrow on the death of Elder Leroy Davenport and express our gratitude for the great difference he made in the lives of many and our deepest sympathies to his family and friends; and
EMMA MITTS Alderman, 37th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOL VED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Elder LeRoy Davenport as a sign of our honor and respect.
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