Bernice H. Davenport, 89, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2015. She was born October 11, 1926 to the late Radcliffe S. and Mellie A. Howard in Henderson, NC.

Mrs. Davenport was educated in the public schools of Winston-Salem, NC, graduating from Atkins High School in 1943 and earning her BA degree from Winston-Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University) in 1947. She continued her education at Columbia University where she received the Master's Degree in Music Education and completed additional studies at North Carolina A & T State University.

A career educator, Mrs. Davenport taught at Woodlawn Elementary School, Wilkesboro, NC and Oak Grove Elementary School, Elkin, NC before joining the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools System where she completed her 30 year-tenure in teaching. Throughout her life she was known as a cheerful giver. She organized Christmas events for young children including a visit from Santa at Bethlehem Community Center, worked more than 10 years as a neighborhood donations coordinator for the March of Dimes, and volunteered in the box office of the WSSU Lyceum Cultural Events Series for more than a decade. Through the Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she collected and distributed blankets to those in need every December. Through the Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. she organized ad Christmas event for young children, including a visit from Santa.

Mrs. Davenport was member of Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church where she worked in the Sunday School as a pianist and teacher, coordinated the Wednesday Noon Day Prayer Service, served as the organist and director of the Cathedral Choir, and was the organist for the church choir when Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. spoke at Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church in 1964. She was a strong advocate of the annual performance of The Seven Last Words by the church choir. Her honors and activities included the following: Golden Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Phi Omega Chapter), recipient of the 2003 Winston-Salem Chronicle Lifetime Achievement Award, 1997 inductee into the WSSU Golden Ram Society, and member of WSSU Brown Alumni Chapter.

She was a staunch financial supporter of Winston-Salem State where she served on the Capital Campaign Media Strategy Committee and later established the Bernice and James Davenport Music Endowment Scholarship Fund.

Preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Davenport and their loving daughter, Marsha Davenport, she leaves to cherish her love and good works nieces, Valerie (Michael) Adams of Ohio and Susan Rodriguez of North Carolina; nephews, Chris Neal and Jimmy Neal of North Carolina; other family and special friends who loved her dearly, Theldora Williams, Bennie Williams, Jr., Bennie Williams III, James Jarrell, Gloria D. Banks, Rachel Wilkinson, Amy White, Julie Hunter, Dr. Teresa Unseld, Annette Morgan Wilson, Edwina White Thompson, RaVonda Dalton-Rann, Marie Burney, and Marie Matthews.

Memorial services for Mrs. Davenport will be held at 12noon Saturday, November 21, 2015 at Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church. The Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Ivy Beyond the Wall service will be held at 11:30 am Saturday at the Church. A repast will follow at Winston-Salem State University Anderson Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bernice and James Davenport Music Endowment Scholarship Fund c/o Winston-Salem State University, Blair Hall 311, Winston-Salem, NC 27110.