Mrs. Minnie Olygia Davenport was born on June 21st, 1930 in Cannelton (Bullpush) West Virginia. She spent the majority of her life in Fayette County. At the age of 11, Minnie was baptized at Bethel Baptist Church in Cannelton and she sang in the choir. In the last year of her life with the care of her oldest daughter Delores, she became a resident of Accokeek, Maryland. After a long blessed life of 89 years, Minnie went home to be with the Lord on April 19th, 2020 at Fort Washington Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents: Edward Delbert Rollins and Mary Jennie (Barber) Rollins; brothers: Thomas Rollins, and Reggie Rollins; half-brother: Delbert Rollins; half-sister: Louise Katie Johnson; husband: Rev. Freddie Adam Moses Davenport Sr; son: Wade Davenport, and daughter: Linda Davenport

Minnie was the First Lady of both the New Hope Baptist Church of Whipple and the First Missionary Baptist Church of Smithers, West Virginia, for several decades. She was also a former member of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Carbondale where she served as Secretary of the “Willing Workers Club” and sang in the choir. Mrs. Davenport honorably served as a member of the Mt. Olive Ministers Wives and Widows Council and previously served as Correspondent Secretary. At the First Baptist Church of Smithers, Mrs. Davenport served as the Secretary of the Mission Society, Secretary of the Sunday School, Treasurer of the church, and sang in the choir. She was a supporter to both her community and throughout the Upper Kanawha Valley where she was highly known for her wonderful acts of giving.

Minnie first started in primer at age 5 attending Cannelton Grade School from the 1st to the 6th grade. While in high school, she was an active member of the High-Y academic club. In 1949, Minnie graduated with honors from Washington High School in London and delivered a commencement speech on “World Peace” as the 3rd top honor scholar in her graduating class. During all four years of high school, from 1945 to 1949, Minnie was the Lead Nursing Assistant providing medical services to the community at Laird Memorial Hospital in Montgomery, WV. She loved nursing, performed at the top of her class in nursing training, and was promoted for excellent care of her patients.

On July 30, 1949, Minnie (at the age of 19) married Freddie Adam Moses Davenport, Sr at her parent’s home in Cannelton, WV. Minnie was married to Freddie Sr., for 68 years and they raised eleven children; eight sons, and three daughters, in addition to two grandsons. She was a loving, supportive, respectful, and intelligent wife. Minnie lived by showing examples of true loving character, which had an impact on her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and children in the community. She was the type of person that helped and uplifted all people that she came in contact with for all the days of her life, and would never talk negative about anyone. Minnie was the best mother that any child could have ever imagined. She always provided loving care and protection for all of her children and grandchildren. From time to time, she also cared for children in the neighboring communities. Minnie diligently taught her children to achieve and consistently encouraged them to believe that with great focus they could accomplish any goal. Minnie was very principled and better known as a "Virtuous Mother". Having dedicated a major portion of her lifetime to family, Minnie sacrificed, along with her husband, to put each of their eleven children, including two grandsons through college under one income. While her husband worked hard in the coal mines, she was home raising, nurturing, educating, and caring for their children. She attended PTA meetings and made sure that all of her children completed their schoolwork on time. She always emphasized the importance of higher education to her children to ensure they reached their maximum potential. She gracefully taught her children how to utilize their education, the importance of how to interact with people in society, and how to work with others to achieve a common goal.

Most of her children graduated from West Virginia University Institute of Technology and the remainder graduated from out-of-state universities or other organizations; thus, leading to very successful careers that made Minnie very proud. She secured her children’s educational needs resulting in them achieving Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees, in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Technology, Mathematics, Business Administration, Education, and Occupational Safety and Health. She provided all of the needed transportation to each of the siblings to ensure that they received a high-quality education as well as enabling them to participate in extracurricular activities (i.e., band, football, basketball, baseball, boxing, etc).

Surviving: brother: Robert Rollins (wife the late Doris) of Powellton, WV; sister: Mary Harris (husband the late Howard) of Washington, DC; daughters: Delores James (husband the late Andrew) of Accokeek, MD; and Mary Fry of Lexington Park, MD; sons: Freddie Davenport, Jr (Thelma) of Toledo, OH; Thomas Davenport (Margaret) of Rand, WV; Larry Davenport (Jennifer) of Montgomery, WV; Bishop Joseph Davenport (Terri) of Dunbar, WV; Paul Davenport (Esther) of Torrance, CA; Timothy Davenport (Tonya) of Upper Marlboro, MD; and Jule Davenport (Crystal) of Upper Marlboro, MD; sons/grandsons: Stephen Davenport of Columbus, OH; and Robert Davenport (Ayesha) of Atlanta, GA; 33 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren (one on the way); 2 great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.

The interment of Mother Minnie Olygia Davenport will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Meadow Haven Memorial Park Cemetery in Ingram Branch, WV. The grave site committal service is scheduled for 11:00 AM and the officiating minister will be, Rev. Burton W. Spencer, Jr. Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to the O’Dell Funeral Home in Montgomery, WV, at www.OdellFuneralHome.com. Donations can be made to the First Missionary Baptist Church of Smithers, PO Box 42, Smithers, WV 25186. A community memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at a later date.